Gulf state awards Modi its highest honor

The Indian leader received Kuwait’s Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer on his first official visit to the nation

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was awarded Kuwait’s highest honor by the amir of the Gulf state, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, during their meeting on Sunday. The same honor has been given to heads of state and foreign royals such as Bill Clinton, George Bush, and King Charles. 

Modi’s visit to Kuwait is the first by an Indian prime minister since Indira Gandhi in 1981. Kuwait plays a significant role as a trade partner for New Delhi, with bilateral trade reaching $10.47 billion in the last financial year.

The Gulf nation ranks as the sixth-largest supplier of crude oil to India, fulfilling 3% of its energy needs. Cumulative investments by the Kuwaiti sovereign wealth fund in the South Asian nation exceed $10 billion. Kuwait is also home to a community of 1 million Indians, making it the largest diaspora in the Middle East. 

The two nations have elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership, opening “a new chapter,” according to Indian Foreign Ministry.

“Both sides have been able to identify several important areas of cooperation, and the governments will work towards fulfilling the plans made during this visit,” Foreign Ministry secretary Arun Kumar Chatterjee told the media on Sunday.

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Key areas of focus included information technology, pharmaceuticals, fintech, infrastructure, and security. In a post on X, Modi described his meeting with the amir as “excellent,” emphasizing the discussions on cooperation in these vital sectors. “I am optimistic that our friendship will flourish even more in the times to come,” he noted.

Modi also met with Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khalid Al-Sabah, where they explored ways to enhance India-Kuwait trade, defense, and cultural ties. 

As part of his official program, Modi visited a labor base in the Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait, where around 1,500 Indian workers are employed. He interacted with the workers and inquired about their well-being.

In June of this year, 40 Indians died in a massive fire at a building housing workers in Mangaf city, along with nine others, including three Philippine nationals. Most of Kuwait’s population of over 4 million is made up of foreigners, many from South and Southeast Asia, who work in construction and service industries and often are housed in overcrowded accommodation.