A Long-Standing Relationship

India and Kuwait enjoy traditionally warm and friendly relations, rooted in history and sustained people-to-people contact. The year 2020-21 marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries. India has been a natural trading partner of Kuwait and until 1961 Indian Rupee was the legal tender in Kuwait. Till the discovery and development of oil, Kuwait’s economy revolved around its fine harbour and maritime activities which included shipbuilding, pearl diving, fishing and voyages to India on wooden dhows carrying dates, Arabian horses and pearls that were traded for wood, cereals, clothes and spices.

Political Relations

India–Kuwait high-level contacts are outlined below:

• VVIP visits from India to Kuwait: Vice President Dr Zakir Husain visited Kuwait in 1965. Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi visited Kuwait in 1981 and Vice President Shri Hamid Ansari visited Kuwait in 2009.

• VVIP visits from Kuwait to India: H.H. Crown Prince and Prime Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah visited India in 1964, H.H. the Amir Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited India in 1980 and again in 1983 (for the NAM Summit), HH the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited India in 2006 and H.H. the Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al- Hamad Al-Sabah visited India in November 2013.

RECENT EXCHANGES

From India:

• External Affairs Minister H.E. Dr S. Jaishankar visited Kuwait on June 9-11, 2021 at the invitation of H.E. Sheikh (Dr.) Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah, Foreign Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, State of Kuwait.

• Hon. Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Steel, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, visited Kuwait on 11-12 October 2020 to offer condolences on the demise of the late Amir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

• Minister of State of External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs Shri V. Muraleedharan paid an official visit to Kuwait on 14-15 September 2019 and met Minister of State for Economic Affairs of Kuwait and also held bilateral talks, on a wide range of issues, with the Deputy Foreign Minister of Kuwait.