New Delhi: Minister of External Affairs Dr S. Jaishankar left for Kuwait via Qatar on Wednesday, as he is on a three-day official visit to the Gulf nation. The EAM during his visit would further discuss the entire gamut of the bilateral relations including strengthening the ties. This will be his first visit to Kuwait as External Affairs Minister. During the visit, he is scheduled to hold high-level meetings and also address the Indian community in Kuwait. The year 2021-22 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Kuwait.
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He would thank the two countries for the support extended to India during the second wave of the pandemic. Both Qatar and Kuwait were the main logistics hubs for India in the supply of liquid medical oxygen. In Kuwait, Jaishankar is scheduled to meet his counterpart Sheikh Mohammad Naseer al-Mohammad al-Sabah and discuss a range of issues like investment, trade, energy and information technology. He would also hand over a letter written by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Nawaf al-Ahmad al-Sabah.
Notably, in recent weeks, to help fight the second wave of COVID-19 in India, the Government of Kuwait has been at the forefront to ensure a sustained and reliable supply of Liquid Medical Oxygen to India which includes establishing an Air/Sea Bridge. Kuwait had supplied 5,267 oxygen cylinders to India, 55 oxygen concentrators, 450 metric tonnes of liquid oxygen and 11 ventilators apart from drugs, oximeters, masks and gloves.
Qatar on the other hand was a major logistic hub and ensured the flow of passenger flights under the air bubble arrangement that has been in place since August 2020. Traditionally warm and close bilateral relationship between India and Kuwait is characterized by strong people-to-people connections. Around one million Indians are residing in Kuwait. India is amongst the largest trading partners of Kuwait, which is a major supplier of oil for India, the MEA had said.
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Earlier, Sheikh Dr Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, State of Kuwait, visited India on 17-18 March this year. Both countries had agreed to establish a Joint Commission at Foreign Ministers' level during the visit. Also, in April, the Qatar Emir Sheikh Tamim Bn Hamad Al Thani had dialled PM Modi and expressed solidarity with India apart from assuring all support. Although Jaishankar would transit through Doha, there is no meeting scheduled yet with the Qatari leadership.
