Context

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kuwait at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State. He became the first Indian Prime Minister in 43 years to visit Kuwait.
• The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.

Highlights of Visit

• PM Modi also attended the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup in Kuwait on 21 December 2024 as the 'Guest of Honour' of Amir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
• Amir of the State of Kuwait Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah conferred the highest award of the State of Kuwait ‘The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer’ on Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi .
• MoU between India and Kuwait on Cooperation in the field of Defence.
• Cultural Exchange Programme between India and Kuwait for the years 2025-2029.
• Executive Programme between India and Kuwait on Cooperation in the field of Sports for 2025-2028 between the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India and Public Authority for Youth and Sports, Government of the State of Kuwait.
• Kuwait’s membership of International Solar Alliance (ISA).

Recent developments between India and Kuwait

• External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar and Kuwait's Foreign Minister Abdullah Ali Al Yahya signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in December 2024 to establish a Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) at the level of foreign ministers.
• The Indian side welcomed Kuwait’s entry as ‘dialogue partner’ in SCO during India’s Presidency of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in 2023.
• Kuwaiti Radio broadcasts programs in Hindi language every Sunday from 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm from April 21, 2024.

India-Kuwait Relations:

• India has been a natural trading partner of Kuwait and until 1961 Indian Rupee was the legal tender in Kuwait.
• Kuwait was one of the first countries to extend support to India during the war with China in 1962.
• The year 2021-22 marked the 60th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries.
• During FY 2023-24, Kuwait was the 9th largest oil supplier with about 3.0 % of India’s total energy needs.
• Total bilateral trade with Kuwait during FY 2023-24 was US$ 10.47 billion.
• Export items to Kuwait (during FY 2022-23): Cereals, Organic Chemicals, Electrical Machinery & Equipment, Vehicles and Ceramic Products.
• Imports items to Kuwait (during FY 2022-23): Mineral Fuels, Organic Chemicals, Aircraft & parts, Plastics and Iron and steel (scrap).
• Kuwait provided liquid medical oxygen to India during the second Covid-19 wave in India.
• Actor Dilip Kumar inaugurated the first Indian restaurant in Kuwait.

About Kuwait

• Officially known as the State of Kuwait
• Constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system.
• Head of state is the Emir, and the political system involves a hereditary monarchy.
• Location: Arabian Peninsula in the Middle East.
• Kuwait gained independence from British protection in 1961.
• Bordered by Iraq to the north and northwest, Saudi Arabia to the south, and the Persian Gulf to the east.
• Capital and Largest city of Kuwait: Kuwait City
• Currency: Kuwaiti Dinar (KWD)