India-Kuwait Relations

India and Kuwait have signed various Agreements to provide a framework for the development of bilateral relations. These include:

i. Cultural Agreement between the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the State of Kuwait signed on November 2, 1970;

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ii. Trade Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of the State of Kuwait signed on February 13, 1974;

iii. Cooperation Agreement between the Government of India and the Government of the State of Kuwait signed on February 15, 1992;

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iv. Protocol between the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of the Republic of India and Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) for Scientific and Technical Cooperation signed on June 16, 1995;

v. Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of External Affairs of the Republic of India and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait on the Conducting of Bilateral Consultations signed on July 9, 2000

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vi. Memorandum of Understanding on Civil Aviation Matters signed on August 30, 2001;

vii. Agreement between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of India for the Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of Investment signed on November 27, 2001;

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viii. Academic Agreement between Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and Faculty of Arts, Kuwait University signed in December 2003;

ix. Agreement on Mutual Legal Assistance in Criminal Matters signed on August 25, 2004;

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x. Extradition Treaty between the Republic of India and the State of Kuwait signed on August 25, 2004;

xi. MOU for Establishment of Indo-Kuwait Strategic Consultative Group signed on August 25, 2004;

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xii. Agreement on Juridical and Judicial Cooperation in Civil and Commercial Matters signed on August 16, 2005;

xiii. Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement and for the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with respect to Taxes on Income (DTAA) between India and Kuwait signed on June 15, 2006;

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xiv. Agreement on Drug Demand Reduction and Prevention of Illicit Trafficking in Narcotic Drugs, Psychotropic Substances and Precursor Chemicals and Related Matters signed on June 15, 2006;

xv. Executive Programme for the Cultural and Information Exchanges between India and Kuwait for the years 2006 - 2008 signed on June 15, 2006;

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xvi. Memorandum of Understanding on Civil Aviation Matters signed on July 18, 2006.

Visits

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Important visits from India to Kuwait

Then Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi visited Kuwait in May 1981. Other important visits from India to Kuwait have included those by Shri Madhavsinh Solanki, External Affairs Minister (Accompanied by Secretary (East) and high ranking officials from various Ministries) in February 1992; Shri Sukh Ram, Minister of State for Communications on June 7-9, 1993; Shri R.L. Bhatia, Minister of State for External Affairs on June 22-23, 1994; Shri Gulam Nabi Azad, Minister for Civil Aviation on February 2-4, 1994; Capt. Satish Sharma, Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Gas on September 16-17, 1995; Shri Shivraj Patil, Speaker, Lok Sabha on November 5-8, 1995; Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister of State for External Affairs on January 6-7, 1996; Shri P.A. Sangma, Speaker, Lok Sabha on transit visit on July 26, 1997; Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Leader of the Opposition In the Lok Sabha on October 21-23, 1997; Smt. Najma Heptullah, Deputy Chairperson, Rajya Sabha on May 22, 2000; Shri Ajit Kumar Panja, Minister of State for External Affairs on July 8-11, 2000; Dr. L.M. Singhvi, Chairman and Shri J.R. Hiremath and Shri J.C. Sharma, Members, Highlevel Committee on Indian Diaspora on February 6-8, 2001; Smt. Najma Heptullah, Dy. Chairperson, Rajya Sabha, Shri K. Yerran Naidu, Member of Parliament, Shri M. H. Ansari, Vice Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, Shri Tanveer Ahmed, Chairman of the Haj Committee of India February on 1-4, 2002; Shri Vinod Khanna Minister of State for External Affairs on June 23-25, 2003; Shri Om Prakash Chautala, Chief Minister of the State of Haryana on March 7 – 8, 2004; Shri Jagdish Tytler, MOS(IC) for Overseas Indian Affairs on November 25 – 27, 2004; Shri E. Ahamed, MOS(EA) in February 21 – 22, 2005; Shri Jagdish Tytler, Minister of State (IC) for Overseas Indian Affairs on April 12-13, 2005; Shri Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas on January 16, 2006; Shri Suresh Kalmadi, President, Indian Olympic Association and Dr. S.Y. Quraishi, Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on March 4, 2006; Shri E. Ahamed, Minister of State for External Affairs and Special Envoy of Government of India on April 16-17, 2006

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Official level visits have included Shri N. Dayal, Secretary(East), Ministry of External Affairs on June 9, 1998; Shri K.V. Rajan, Secretary(East), Ministry of External Affairs on January 22-24, 2001; Shri R.M. Abhyankar, Additional Secretary (East) and Shri Swashpawan Singh, Joint Secretary (Gulf), Ministry of External Affairs on November 4-6, 2001; Shri K. Roy Paul, Secretary (Civil Aviation) on March 23-24, 2003; Shri R. M. Abhyankar, Secretary (ANA), Ministry of External Affairs on May 12-13, 2003; Shri J. C. Sharma, Secretary (PCD), Ministry of External Affairs on December 21-23, 2003.

Other official visits have included those by Shri S.R. Tayal, Joint Secretary (CPV), Ministry of External Affairs on February 4-5, 2001; Shri S.R. Tayal, Joint Secretary (CPV), Ministry of External Affairs on June 1-6, 2002; Maj. Gen. Devraj Singh, ACIDS, Ministry of Defence and Brig. P. S. Yadav, Director (Military Affairs), Ministry of External Affairs on December 14-17, 2002; Smt. Poonam Dutt, Joint Secretary, Department of Revenue, Ministry of Finance on October 18 – 22, 2003; Shri C.R. Gharekhan, Special Envoy for West Asia and The Middle East Peace Process on June 17-18, 2005; Smt. Poonam Dutt, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Finance on September 24-28, 2005.

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Ministers from State Governments have regularly visited Kuwait to interact with community members.

A flotilla of Indian Ships visited Kuwait in 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000 and October 2002. A Goodwill visit by INS Delhi and INS Mumbai to Kuwait took place on December 27- 31, 2003

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A CII- sponsored Investment Mission visited Kuwait on April 30 – May 2, 2005. Other business delegations have also visited Kuwait from India.

Important visits from Kuwait to India

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The Amir of the State of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah paid a State Visit to India from June 14-19, 2006. He was accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh (Dr.) Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah; Minister of Energy Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah; Minister of Finance Mr. Bader Mishari Al-Humaidhi and a strong business contingent led by First Vice Chairman of KCCI Mr. Hilal Mishari Al-Mutairi.

Then Amir of the State of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al- Sabah visited India in September 1980 accompanied by then Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

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Then Amir of the State of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah visited India in March 1983 for the NAM Summit.

Then Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the State of Kuwait His Highness Sheikh Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Salem Al-Sabah visited India in 1983.

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Other important visits from Kuwait to India have included those by Mr. Habib J. Hayat, Minister for Communications in February 1992; Dr. Badr Jassim Al-Yacoub, Minister of Information as a Special Envoy of His Highness the Amir in July 1992; Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs as Special Envoy of His Highness the Amir from February 10-12, 1993; Mr. Ahmed Abdul Aziz Jassem Al-Saadoun, Speaker, led a Parliamentary delegation in April 1993; Mr. Mohammad Yousef Al Refai, Chief Justice on January 10-16, 1994; Mr. Jassem Al Oun, Minister for Communication, Electricity and Water on December 5-8, 1994; Dr. Abdul Mohsen Mudaej, Oil Minister on January 11-14, 1995; Mr. Mubarak Al-Khereinj, Member of Kuwait National Assembly in February 1997; Mr. Talal Al- Ayyar, Deputy Speaker, National Assembly in September/October 1998; Mr. Al- Khallaf, Chairman, POW Committee in August 1999; Sheikh Ahmad Abdulla Al Ahmad Al Sabah, Minister of Communications on December 7-12, 2002; Mr. Jassem Al- Khorafi, Speaker, National Assembly on January 21-24, 2003; Mr. Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman Al – Taweel, Minister of Trade and Industry on February 17– 18, 2004; Dr.Mohammad Ahmad Al-Jarallah, Minister of Health on August 12-14, 2004; Sheikh (Dr.) Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs on August 24-26, 2004; Mr. Yousef Al-Ibrahim, Economic Advisor to Prime Minister on January 6, 2005; Mr. Ahmed Baqer, Minister of Justice on August 16-17, 2005; Minister of Communications Mr. Ismail Al-Shatti on June 28, 2006; Minister of Energy Sheikh Ali Jarrah Sabah Al-Sabah on transit in August 2006.

Senior Official visits have included those by Dr. Rasha Al Sabah, Under Secretary, Ministry of Education and Higher Education in September 2003; Dr. Rasha Al Sabah, Under Secretary, Ministry of Education and Higher Education on November 8 – 15, 2003; Mr. Mustafa Jassim Al-Shamali, Under Secretary, Ministry of Finance on July 16- 18 2006.

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Other official visits have included those by Mr. Fauzi Al Qassar, Asstt. Under Secretary, Ministry of Finance & Tax Affairs on February 16-20, 2004; Eng. Fahad Al-Mutairi, Assistant Under Secretary & DGM, Export Development, Centre, Public Authority for Industry on September 22-29, 2005

A Cultural Troupe from the National Council for Art, Culture and Letters visited India on December 9-16, 2003.

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Economic

India’s total non-oil bilateral trade with Kuwait in 2004 was $ 628.64 million. India’s exports came to $ 524.01 million and imports $ 104.63 million. India’s main exports were rice, portland cement, cement (clinkers), gem and jewellery, iron and steel coil products, textiles, ready- made garments, fruits and vegetables, spices and main imports oil and oil products to India. (India imported about 10.743 million tonnes of crude oil from Kuwait in 2005 and 1.249 million tonnes of other products from Kuwait at an approximate cost of US $4.479 billion). Other items include petroleum products, fertilizers, sulfur, naphtha and metal scrap.

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Education

There are about a dozen Indian schools in Kuwait affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi. They are all well established and cater to the needs of the large Indian community residing in Kuwait. The Indian community in Kuwait numbered 514,373, as on April 30, 2006. The community has played a positive role in fostering India-Kuwait relations. Amongst them are old established families of Indian businessmen who have flourishing trade relations with Kuwait.

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