Kuwait City | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said the diaspora has filled Kuwait’s canvas with the colours of Indian skills and assured that India has the manpower, skills and technology needed by a 'New Kuwait'.
Modi, who is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, was addressing a gathering of the Indian community here.
His visit to Kuwait is the first for any Indian Prime Minister to this Gulf nation in 43 years.
“It takes you four hours to reach here from India but it took four decades for an Indian PM to travel to Kuwait,” he said.
Greeting the gathering for the series of festivals that would be celebrated over next few weeks, Modi said, “You all have come from different parts of India, but looking at all of you, it feels like a mini India has gathered here.”
“Every year, hundreds of Indians come to Kuwait; you have added Indian touch to Kuwaiti society. You have filled Kuwait’s canvas with colours of Indian skills, mixed with the essence of India's talent, technology and tradition,” he added.
India has manpower, skills and technology needed by 'New Kuwait', he added.
Kuwait City | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday met two Kuwaiti nationals who translated and published India’s two iconic epics, Mahabharata and Ramayana in Arabic.
The Prime Minister also signed copies of the Arabic versions of the two epics.
Modi reached Kuwait on Saturday for a two-day visit. He is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His visit is the first of any Indian Prime Minister to the Gulf nation in 43 years.
The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.
"Happy to see Arabic translations of the Ramayan and Mahabharat. I compliment Abdullah Al-Baroun and Abdul Lateef Al-Nesef for their efforts in translating and publishing it. Their initiative highlights the popularity of Indian culture globally, Modi said in a post on X along with pictures.
During Modi's 'Mann Ki Baat' radio address in October, he highlighted their work and said that "this work is not just a translation, but a bridge between two great cultures. It is developing a new understanding of Indian literature in the Arab world."
On his arrival, Modi was warmly received by Sheikh Fahad Yousef Saud Al-Sabah First Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence & Interior of Kuwait.
Modi also met Kuwait-based retired Indian Foreign Service (IFS) officer Mangal Sain Handa.
"Delighted to have met Shri @MangalSainHanda Ji in Kuwait this afternoon. I admire his contribution to India and his passion for India's development," Modi posted on X.
On Friday, Handa's granddaughter Shreya Juneja requested Modi to meet her Nanaji to which Modi replied," Absolutely! I look forward to meeting @MangalSainHanda Ji in Kuwait today."
"Humble request to Hon'ble PM @narendramodi to meet my 101-year-old Nanaji, ex-IFS officer, in Kuwait during tmrw’s interaction with the Indian Diaspora. Nana
@MangalSainHanda is a great admirer of yours. Details have been emailed to your office," Shreya Juneja, granddaughter of Handa posted on X on Friday.
After Modi reached Kuwait, he had a heartwarming welcome from the vibrant Indian diaspora in Kuwait.
"Their energy, love and unwavering connection to India are truly inspiring. Grateful for their enthusiasm and proud of their contributions to strengthening ties between our nations," Modi said.
During his visit, he will also attend the opening ceremony of the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup here in Kuwait.
India is among Kuwait's top trading partners. He would also meet the vibrant Indian diaspora here. The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait.
Indians constitute 21 per cent (1 million) of the total population of Kuwait and 30 per cent of its workforce (approx 9 lakhs). Indian workers top the Private Sector as well as domestic sector (DSW) workforce list, according to the Indian Embassy in Kuwait.
Kuwait is among India's top trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at USD 10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24.
Kuwait is India's sixth largest crude supplier, meeting 3 per cent of the country's energy needs.
Indian exports to Kuwait reached USD 2 billion for the first time, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceeded USD 10 billion.
India and Kuwait have enjoyed traditionally friendly relations, with links dating back to pre-oil Kuwait when maritime trade with India was the backbone of its economy.
Kuwait City | Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited a labour camp here, a visit described by the External Affairs ministry as symbolic of the importance he attached to the welfare of Indian workers abroad.
Modi is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. His visit to Kuwait is the first for any Indian Prime Minister to this Gulf nation in 43 years.
As the first programme of his visit to Kuwait, Modi visited a labour camp in Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait with a workforce of around 1,500 Indian nationals.
He interacted with a cross-section of Indian workers from different states of India, enquired about their well-being, also sat at a table with some of them at the Gulf Spic Labour Camp when snacks served.
On Modi's planned visit to the labour camp, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier said that the idea was to express “the amount of importance the government of India attaches to our workers. That is the prime purpose.”
Modi's visit comes months after over 45 Indians were killed in a devastating fire in a building housing foreign workers in southern Kuwait's Mangaf locality in June.
“The visit to the labour camp is symbolic of the importance attached by the Prime Minister to the welfare of Indian workers abroad. In the last few years, the government has undertaken several technology-based initiatives such as e-Migrate portal, MADAD portal and upgraded Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana for the welfare of Indian workers abroad,” an MEA statement said.
"Modi interacted with Indian workers & enquired about their well-being. PM’s first engagement of the day signifies the importance India attaches to the welfare of Indian workers abroad," the MEA posted on X along with the photos from the event.
The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait. Indians constitute 21 per cent (1 million) of the total population of Kuwait and 30 per cent of its work-force (approx 9 lakh). Indian workers top the private sector as well as the domestic sector (DSW) work force list, according to Indian Embassy in Kuwait.
The Gulf nation is among India's top trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at USD 10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24. Kuwait is India's sixth largest crude supplier, meeting three per cent of the country's energy needs.
Indian exports to Kuwait reached USD 2 billion for the first time, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed USD 10 billion.
India and Kuwait have enjoyed traditionally friendly relations, with links dating back to pre-oil Kuwait when maritime trade with India was the backbone of its economy, the MEA had said ahead of Modi's visit.
