India and Kuwait held the seventh round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in New Delhi on Tuesday, where both nations reviewed bilateral ties and discussed ways to strengthen their strategic partnership across multiple sectors.
Aseem Mahajan, Additional Secretary (Gulf) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), and Ambassador Sameeh Essa Johar Hayat, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asia Affairs in Kuwait’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, co-chaired the consultations.
In a statement, the MEA confirmed that officials from both sides conducted a comprehensive review of relations and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
They also explored new initiatives to enhance cooperation in political, trade, investment, defence, energy, culture, and people-to-people ties.
Officials emphasised the importance of implementing the roadmap laid out during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Kuwait in December 2024.
They agreed to hold meetings of the Joint Working Groups (JWGs) under the Joint Commission for Cooperation (JCC) at the earliest possible date.
Both sides agreed to organise the next round of consultations in Kuwait at a mutually convenient date. During his visit, Sameeh Essa Johar Hayat also called on Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV & OIA) in the MEA.
The MEA highlighted that India and Kuwait share close, multifaceted relations rooted in history. Bilateral trade reached USD 10.2 billion in FY 2024–25, with energy cooperation playing a significant role.
The presence of over one million Indians in Kuwait continues to strengthen people-to-people connections between the two nations.
India was among the first countries to establish diplomatic ties with Kuwait after its independence in 1961. Before that, India maintained a presence through a Trade Commissioner.
The bilateral relationship reached a new milestone in 2024 when the two countries upgraded ties to a Strategic Partnership during Prime Minister Modi’s visit.
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