Embassy News

Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, paid an official visit to the State of Kuwait from 23-24 August, 2023.

Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, paid an official visit to the State of Kuwait from 23-24 August, 2023.

Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs, paid an official visit to the State of Kuwait from 23-24 August, 2023. This was the first Ministerial visit from the Indian side to Kuwait in the last 2 years.

2.​ During the visit, MoS called on Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister of State of Kuwait, H.E. Sheikh Talal Khalid Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah and Foreign Minister H.E. Sheikh Salem Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. He also met the Deputy Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al Ahmad Al Sabah. The meetings provided an opportunity to discuss avenues to further strengthen our bilateral relations in different areas. There was a clear interest on both sides for giving more content to the economic partnership. Diversification of bilateral trade and greater bilateral investments was stressed by both delegations. MoS expressed appreciation to the Kuwaiti side for the welfare of Indian community in Kuwait and discussed issues affecting the Indian community.

3.​ MoS had a number of interactions with the large and vibrant Indian community in Kuwait. He attended a gathering of over 300 members of Indian community from diverse fields and applauded the role of the Indian community in contributing to the development of Kuwait and strengthening of the bilateral relations between both countries. MoS also separately met some community and professional groups and attended a business event organized by the Indian Business and Professional Council in Kuwait.

4.​ MoS inaugurated the Shilaphalakam at the premises of the Indian Embassy in Kuwait on 23 August to honour the sacrifices of the freedom fighters of the Indian Independence.

5.​The visit was an opportunity to strengthen our bilateral relations and identify new areas of cooperation to deepen our economic partnership.

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ADDRESS BY AMBASSADOR DURING ONBOARD RECEPTION - 21 AUGUST 2023

ADDRESS BY AMBASSADOR DURING ONBOARD RECEPTION - 21 AUGUST 2023


WhatsApp Image 2023 08 22 at 9.04.25 AM 11zonUnder Secretary Defence of the State of Kuwait H.E Dr Abdullah Meshal Mubarak Al-Sabah

Western Fleet Commander of Indian Navy Rear Admiral Vineet McCarty

Captain Ashok Rao

Excellencies, Ambassadors and High Commissioners

Dignitaries from Kuwait

Officers and crew members of INS Vishakhapatnam

Friends from media

Good Evening !! Namaskar! Assalam-Alaikum

​Let me first express my gratitude to His Excellency Dr Abdullah Meshal Mubarak Al-Sabah, for his gracious presence as the Chief Guest for this evening’s reception onboard Indian Naval Ship Visakhapatnam, our indigenously built flagship carrier of Western fleet and named after a historical city and naval base on the eastern coast of India. It cannot be a more proud moment for me to see this majestic Indian Naval Ship berthed in Kuwait. The presence of the Western Fleet Commander onboard the ship shows the importance we attach to the growing defence ties between India and the State of Kuwait.

2.​I would like to take this opportunity to express my deep appreciation and profound gratitude to the leadership, the Government and the people of the State of Kuwait, for their steadfast commitment to the close and friendly relations between India and Kuwait.

Friends,

3.​Dhows and ships have historically been the main driver of the strong and intense people to people ties between our two countries. Not only did our Kuwaitis friends in the 19th and early 20th century went to India on dhows and boats with Arabian horses, pearls and dates and brought back textiles, timber, spices etc, they laid the foundation of our strong bilateral ties. And what could be more poignant a fact then that the Indian rupee was the legal tender in Kuwait for over a century till 1961. It would be no exaggeration therefore to say that India and Kuwait are natural allies and true partners. And this could be seen in our multi-faceted bilateral relations over the years - be it energy, trade, infrastructure development, medical cooperation, people to people exchanges, or defence cooperation and security. The large and vibrant Indian community in Kuwait is a manifestation of our close people to people linkages.

4.​Defence cooperation constitutes a significant element of our shared strategic vision for the region. The bilateral defence engagements have seen a noticeable upswing in the recent past with an increased frequency of Indian Naval ship visits facilitated with active support of the State of Kuwait. We will remain ever grateful to our Kuwaiti friends for their assistance in establishing the Sea-Air bridge between India and Kuwait in 2021 for supply of liquid oxygen during the second COVID wave. These Naval engagements have assisted us in promoting understanding and furthering inter-operability between the two friendly Navies.

Friends,

5.​Indian Naval assets have been increasingly deployed in recent times to address the maritime concerns of the region. In addition, Indian Navy has also been involved in assisting countries in the Region with Hydrographic Survey, Search and Rescue and other such capacity building and capability-enhancement activities. During the three days of port call, both sides participated in various training interactions onboard and at the Naval base to understand the operational procedures of both sides besides the high level meetings/ interactions. This unique exposure and interaction between the two Naval forces has given them meaningful insights into the working aspects of each other. I am sure that the coming days will witness more such interactions.

6.​I know humidity has been very high during the last one week and therefore I would conclude my remarks by once again thanking all of you for joining us today evening. My special thanks to His Excellency Under Secretary Defence .

Ladies and Gentlemen, please enjoy the evening.

Thank you,

Jai Hind !!

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Ambassador of India Dr Adarsh Swaika called on the Commerce Minister of Kuwait H.E Mohd Othman Al Aiban

Ambassador of India Dr Adarsh Swaika called on the Commerce Minister of Kuwait H.E Mohd Othman Al Aiban

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Ambassador of India Dr Adarsh Swaika called on the Commerce Minister of Kuwait H.E Mohd Othman Al Aiban. He apprised the Minister of the increasing trend in bilateral trade and prospects for greater diversification. India was the biggest importer from Kuwait in the 3rd quarter of last financial year .

Ambassador called on H.E Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Jaber Al-Sabah, Chief of the Diwan of His Highness the Crown Prince

Ambassador called on H.E Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Jaber Al-Sabah, Chief of the Diwan of His Highness the Crown Prince

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Ambassador called on H.E Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Jaber Al-Sabah, Chief of the Diwan of His Highness the Crown Prince, today. He apprised him of the current state and future prospects of India-Kuwait bilateral relations, including opportunities for strengthening cooperation

Ambassador of India Dr Adarsh Swaika met with H.E Nimr Fahad Alsabah, Under Secretary, Ministry of Oil of Kuwait

Ambassador of India Dr Adarsh Swaika met with H.E Nimr Fahad Alsabah, Under Secretary, Ministry of Oil of Kuwait

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Ambassador of India Dr Adarsh Swaika met with H.E Nimr Fahad Alsabah, Under Secretary, Ministry of Oil of Kuwait, today. They appreciated the strong oil connect between the two countries & discussed opportunities for further strengthening bilateral collaboration in this important sector.

Ambassador AdarshSwaika called on the Minister of Education Dr Hamad Abdulwahab Hamad Al-Adwani,

Ambassador AdarshSwaika called on the Minister of Education Dr Hamad Abdulwahab Hamad Al-Adwani,

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Ambassador AdarshSwaika called on the Minister of Education Dr Hamad Abdulwahab Hamad Al-Adwani, today. Discussions focused on enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of higher education and issues related to Indian professionals in Kuwait.

Ambassador AdarshSwaika met the new Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs H.E Aziz Al-Dehani

Ambassador AdarshSwaika met the new Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs H.E Aziz Al-Dehani

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Ambassador AdarshSwaika met the new Assistant Foreign Minister for Consular Affairs H.E Aziz Al-Dehani, today. Discussions focused on various bilateral consular matters, including some of the consular issues affecting the Indian community in Kuwait

Ambassador called on Governor of Jahra Governorate H.E Nasser F M Al-Hajraf

 Ambassador called on Governor of Jahra Governorate H.E Nasser F M Al-Hajraf

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Ambassador called on Governor of Jahra Governorate H.E Nasser F M Al-Hajraf, today. He apprised him of the steps being taken to strengthen bilateral relations, including in the fields of education, medical and healthcare and recruitment of professionals.

Ambassador called on Governor of Farwaniya Governorate H.E Sheikh Mishal Jaber Abdullah Jaber Alsabah.

Ambassador called on Governor of Farwaniya Governorate H.E Sheikh Mishal Jaber Abdullah Jaber Alsabah.

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Ambassador called on Governor of Farwaniya Governorate H.E Sheikh Mishal Jaber Abdullah Jaber Alsabah. He thanked him for the welfare of the large Indian community in his jurisdiction. He apprised him of the steps being taken to further strengthen bilateral relations.

Ambassador met with HE Dr Abdullah Mishaal Al Sabah, Undersecretary of Ministry of Defence of Kuwait

Ambassador met with HE Dr Abdullah Mishaal Al Sabah, Undersecretary of Ministry of Defence of Kuwait

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Ambassador met with HE Dr Abdullah Mishaal Al Sabah, Undersecretary of Ministry of Defence of Kuwait to review various aspects of bilateral defence cooperation. He thanked the Undersecretary for the support to Indian Naval Ship visits last year and apprised him of prospects for greater bilateral cooperation in this domain.

The 5th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Kuwait

The 5th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Kuwait

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The 5th round of Foreign Office Consultations between India and Kuwait were held today in New Delhi. Both sides reviewed various aspects of bilateral relations comprehensively and agreed to further strengthen and diversify bilateral ties.

The Indian delegation was led by Shri Vipul, Joint Secretary(Gulf), Ministry of External Affairs. H.E. Ambassador Sameeh Essa Johar Hayat, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asia Affairs of Kuwait (AFM), headed the Kuwaiti delegation. Ambassadors from both countries as well as officials from other Ministries also participated in the FOC.

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Ambassador’s Meeting with Minister for Public Works, State of Kuwait

Ambassador’s Meeting with Minister for Public Works, State of Kuwait

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          Ambassador of India to Kuwait, H.E. Shri Adarsh Swaika met H.E. Mrs. Amani Suleman Abdulwahab Bugamaz, Minister of Public Works and Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy, State of Kuwait on 06 April 2023.

2.       They discussed areas of mutual cooperation between the two countries. Ambassador Swaika highlighted opportunities for cooperation in the fields of infrastructure & road connectivity, as well as renewable energy in Kuwait.

3.       India, which has one of the largest road networks in the world, has geared up for improving connectivity with projects such as the PM Gati Shakti - National Master Plan for Multi-Modal Connectivity, launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi, and the Bharatmala Pariyojna, a road development plan for construction of tunnels, bridges, elevated corridors, flyovers, overpass, interchanges, bypasses, ring roads etc. which will connect 550 districts of India through a minimum 4-lane highway. Ambitious projects such as the Mumbai-Delhi Expressway is already underway, while Bengaluru-Mysuru as well as the Ahmedabad Vadodara Expressways have been successfully completed. Additionally, India also launched the Sagarmala initiative which will enhance the performance of the country's logistics sector, by utilizing the full potential of the waterways and coastlines and reduce logistics costs for international as well as domestic trade. Apart from this, India has also plans to improve air connectivity with plans to develop 220 new airports by 2025.

 

4.       Ambassador Swaika also highlighted during the meeting that India ranks 4th worldwide in installed renewable energy capacity with 165.94 GW as of October 2022, accounting for 40.6% of the nation's total installed power capacity. He also mentioned that India has launched the Mission Innovation CleanTech Exchange, a global initiative that will create a whole network of incubators across member countries to accelerate clean energy innovation. Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi pledged to boost India's renewable energy generation capacity to 500 GW and satisfy half of India's energy needs through renewable sources by the year 2030 at the Cop-26 Summit in Glasgow.

 Remarks of Ambassador at the Festival of India – Yarmouk Centre

 
 
 Remarks of Ambassador at the ‘Festival of India – Yarmouk Centre', March 18, 2023
  

Under Secretary of Ministry of Culture and Information H.E Mr Mazin Al Ansari and Chief Guest of today’s event

Excellencies,

Friends of India in Kuwait,

Friends from media,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

  IFL

Mas'aa al Kheir, Good evening,

       I welcome you all to the Festival of India event in Kuwait. It is special because it is the first such event outside India in the post-pandemic period. This festival is a celebration of the rich cultural heritage of India and a testament to the strong and longstanding relationship between India and Kuwait.

2.    The inaugural event of the Festival of India yesterday at the Salmiya theatre was a huge success with over 700 people attending it. I am sure you will not be disappointed today as we witness the three very unique and different genres of Indian dance and music.

3.    The Qutbi Brothers are renowned for their soulful rendition of Qawwali, a form of devotional music that originated in India. Their music transcends boundaries and brings people together uniting them in the devotion of the almighty. The Hasan Khan and team will be presenting the vibrant Rajasthani Folk, which is a blend of music, dance, and storytelling. It is an expression of the rich cultural heritage of Rajasthan, a state in India that is known for its colorful traditions and vibrant folk culture. Finally, the Anirudh Verma Collective will be performing a fusion of classical and contemporary music,  which I am sure will mesmerize us all.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

4.    India and Kuwait have always shared a deep respect for each other's culture and traditions. Our cultural exchange has not only enriched our cultural ethos and traditions but has also played an important role in strengthening our bilateral relations. Indian films have been very popular in Kuwait traditionally and are still shown on KTV every week. The young Kuwaiti generation identifies and follows Bollywood films and stars a lot. The Oscars awarded recently to the song ‘Naatu Naatu’ from the Indian film RRR for the best original song and to ‘The Elephants Whisperers’ for the best documentary short film speaks of the international popularity and recognition of Indian films, songs and culture. Today, as we celebrate the Festival of India in Kuwait, we are proud to showcase some of the most vibrant and diverse forms of Indian music and dance.

5.    As we delve into the beauty and intricacies of Indian music and dance, let me take a moment to reflect on the historical and cultural ties between India and Kuwait. Our relationship dates back to ancient times when Kuwaiti  used to go to India on wooden dhows carrying dates, Arabian horses and pearls to trade for wood, cereals, clothes and spices. What could be more significant then the fact that India rupess was legal tender in Kuwait till 1961. These age-old ties still continue to feed the current people-to-people contacts be it - cultural, business, trade or other ties.  In recent times, Kuwait has been a key partner for India in the Gulf region. Our strong bilateral ties are evident in our trade, political, and cultural relations. Our people-to-people contacts have also been growing with the presence of a large Indian community in Kuwait. The Indian community has made significant contributions to Kuwait's economic and social development, and we are grateful for the warm hospitality and support extended to them by the Kuwaiti people.

6.    I would like to take this opportunity to extend my sincere gratitude to the leadership of the country His Highness the Amir, His Highness the Crown Prince, His Highness the Prime Minister and the government and people of Kuwait for their patronage in promoting cultural exchanges between India and Kuwait. I would also like to extend my warmest greetings to all the performers and participants who have come all the way from different parts of India to perform in Kuwait. And last but not the least, my special thanks to the Dar-Al-Athar Al Islamiyaah for providing the auditorium today and for all the support in organizing this event.

Thank you.

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