India–Kuwait relations - Revision history

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	~~{{Short description\|1=Diplomatic relations between the Republic of India and the State of Kuwait}}~~
	{{Infobox bilateral relations \| India–Kuwait \| India \| Kuwait \| filetype= png \| map= India_Kuwait_Locator.png		{{Infobox bilateral relations \| India–Kuwait \| India \| Kuwait \| filetype= png \| map= India_Kuwait_Locator.png
	\|mission1= Embassy of India, [[Kuwait City]], [[Kuwait]]		\|mission1= Embassy of India, [[Kuwait City]], [[Kuwait]]
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	== History ==		== History ==
	The recent discovery of artefacts such as pottery and jewellery from the Kuwaiti island of [[Failaka Island\|Failaka]] point to commercial and cultural interaction between the two countries dating back several millennia. Prior to the discovery of oil in Kuwait, Indo–Kuwait trade revolved around [[Date palm\|dates]] and pedigreed horses, with Kuwaiti sailors making annual trips between the [[Shatt-al-Arab]] and the western ports of India to conduct the trade. The horse trade was ended in 1945 after [[World War II]], following which trade turned to pearls and [[teakwood\|teak-wood]].<ref name="hindustantimes">{{cite news\|title=Prospering relations of Kuwait and India\|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/Features/Prospering-relations-of-Kuwait-and-India/Article1-816052.aspx\|access-date=13 March 2013\|newspaper=Hindustan Times\|date=February 23, 2012}}</ref>		The recent discovery of artefacts such as pottery and jewellery from the Kuwaiti island of [[Failaka Island\|Failaka]] point to commercial and cultural interaction between the two countries dating back several millennia. Prior to the discovery of oil in Kuwait, Indo–Kuwait trade revolved around [[Date palm\|dates]] and pedigreed horses, with Kuwaiti sailors making annual trips between the [[Shatt-al-Arab]] and the western ports of India to conduct the trade. The horse trade was ended in 1945 after [[World War II]], following which trade turned to pearls and [[teakwood\|teak-wood]].<ref name="hindustantimes">{{cite news\|title=Prospering relations of Kuwait and India\|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/Features/Prospering-relations-of-Kuwait-and-India/Article1-816052.aspx\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120225023523/http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/Features/Prospering-relations-of-Kuwait-and-India/Article1-816052.aspx\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=February 25, 2012\|access-date=13 March 2013\|newspaper=Hindustan Times\|date=February 23, 2012}}</ref>

	Diplomatic relations between the countries began in June 1962 with the appointment of Yacoub Abdulaziz al-Rasheed as the first Kuwaiti Ambassador to India.<ref name="hindustantimes" /> India was among the earliest countries to recognise Kuwaiti independence<ref>{{cite book\|last=Heptullah\|first=Najma\|title=Indo-West Asian Relations: The Nehru Era\|year=1991\|publisher=Allied Publishers\|location=New Delhi\|page=307\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXWFlKwemEQC&q=india+kuwait+relations&pg=PA307\|isbn=9788170233404}}</ref> while Kuwait was one of the first countries to extend support to India during the [[India-China War\|war with China in 1962]]. During the 1950s and 1960s [[Bombay]] was a hub for many Kuwaiti businesses and the emir himself maintained a house there on the [[Marine Drive, Mumbai\|Marine Drive]].<ref>{{cite book\|last=Grover\|first=Verinder\|title=West Asia and India's Foreign Policy\|year=1992\|publisher=Deep and Deep Publications\|location=New Delhi\|page=370\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZpWFwL3j68C&q=india+kuwait+relations&pg=PA368\|isbn=9788171003433}}</ref>		Diplomatic relations between the countries began in June 1962 with the appointment of Yacoub Abdulaziz al-Rasheed as the first Kuwaiti Ambassador to India.<ref name="hindustantimes" /> India was among the earliest countries to recognise Kuwaiti independence<ref>{{cite book\|last=Heptullah\|first=Najma\|title=Indo-West Asian Relations: The Nehru Era\|year=1991\|publisher=Allied Publishers\|location=New Delhi\|page=307\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXWFlKwemEQC&q=india+kuwait+relations&pg=PA307\|isbn=9788170233404}}</ref> while Kuwait was one of the first countries to extend support to India during the [[India-China War\|war with China in 1962]]. During the 1950s and 1960s [[Bombay]] was a hub for many Kuwaiti businesses and the emir himself maintained a house there on the [[Marine Drive, Mumbai\|Marine Drive]].<ref>{{cite book\|last=Grover\|first=Verinder\|title=West Asia and India's Foreign Policy\|year=1992\|publisher=Deep and Deep Publications\|location=New Delhi\|page=370\|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZpWFwL3j68C&q=india+kuwait+relations&pg=PA368\|isbn=9788171003433}}</ref>
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	=== Investments ===		=== Investments ===
	Indian [[Public-sector undertaking\|public sector companies]] in the [[Insurance in India\|insurance]] and aviation sectors have offices in Kuwait, while private companies including [[Larsen & Toubro]], [[Punj Lloyd]] and [[Kalpataru]] have implemented major projects in Kuwait including in its petroleum and power sectors. [[Alghanim Industries\|The Al-Ghanim Group]], the KAPICO group, Global Investment House and Kuwait Finance House are the important Kuwaiti companies in India.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes" /> India has in recent years mooted joint-venture projects between the two countries towards establishing new facilities in the [[Oil and gas industry\|oil and gas sector]] in both countries,<ref>{{cite news\|title=India, Kuwait agree to speed up oil and gas joint ventures\|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/India-Kuwait-agree-to-speed-up-oil-and-gas-joint-ventures/Article1-1024681.aspx\|access-date=13 March 2013\|newspaper=Hindustan Times\|date=March 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=India, Kuwait agree to speed up oil and gas joint ventures\|url=http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/article1497393.ece\|access-date=13 March 2013\|newspaper=The New Indian Express\|date=11 March 2013}}</ref> while Kuwait has welcomed Indian companies to bid for projects in Kuwait as it undertakes a massive infrastructure development programme.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Kuwait seeks to expand trade with India\|url=http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/article1493555.ece\|access-date=13 March 2013\|newspaper=The New Indian Express\|date=8 March 2013}}</ref>		Indian [[Public-sector undertaking\|public sector companies]] in the [[Insurance in India\|insurance]] and aviation sectors have offices in Kuwait, while private companies including [[Larsen & Toubro]], [[Punj Lloyd]] and [[Kalpataru]] have implemented major projects in Kuwait including in its petroleum and power sectors. [[Alghanim Industries\|The Al-Ghanim Group]], the KAPICO group, Global Investment House and Kuwait Finance House are the important Kuwaiti companies in India.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes" /> India has in recent years mooted joint-venture projects between the two countries towards establishing new facilities in the [[Oil and gas industry\|oil and gas sector]] in both countries,<ref>{{cite news\|title=India, Kuwait agree to speed up oil and gas joint ventures\|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/India-Kuwait-agree-to-speed-up-oil-and-gas-joint-ventures/Article1-1024681.aspx\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130330025713/http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/worldeconomy/India-Kuwait-agree-to-speed-up-oil-and-gas-joint-ventures/Article1-1024681.aspx\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=March 30, 2013\|access-date=13 March 2013\|newspaper=Hindustan Times\|date=March 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=India, Kuwait agree to speed up oil and gas joint ventures\|url=http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/article1497393.ece\|access-date=13 March 2013\|newspaper=The New Indian Express\|date=11 March 2013}}</ref> while Kuwait has welcomed Indian companies to bid for projects in Kuwait as it undertakes a massive infrastructure development programme.<ref>{{cite news\|title=Kuwait seeks to expand trade with India\|url=http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/article1493555.ece\|access-date=13 March 2013\|newspaper=The New Indian Express\|date=8 March 2013}}</ref>

	== Technical cooperation==		== Technical cooperation==

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{{Short description|1=Diplomatic relations between the Republic of India and the State of Kuwait}}
{{Infobox bilateral relations | India–Kuwait | India | Kuwait | filetype= png | map= India_Kuwait_Locator.png
|mission1= Embassy of India, [[Kuwait City]], [[Kuwait]]
|mission2= Embassy of Kuwait, [[New Delhi]], [[India]]
|envoytitle1=Indian Ambassador to Kuwait
|envoy1=Shri Sibi George
|envoytitle2= Kuwaiti Ambassador to India
|envoy2=Fahad Ahmad Al-Awadhi
}}

'''India–Kuwait relations''' are bilateral [[diplomatic relations]] between the [[Republic of India]] and the [[State of Kuwait]]. The two countries share friendly ties. Kuwait houses a large expatriate Indian population and is the source for 10-12% of India's oil imports while India is among the largest trade partners of Kuwait.

== History ==
The recent discovery of artefacts such as pottery and jewellery from the Kuwaiti island of [[Failaka Island|Failaka]] point to commercial and cultural interaction between the two countries dating back several millennia. Prior to the discovery of oil in Kuwait, Indo–Kuwait trade revolved around [[Date palm|dates]] and pedigreed horses, with Kuwaiti sailors making annual trips between the [[Shatt-al-Arab]] and the western ports of India to conduct the trade. The horse trade was ended in 1945 after [[World War II]], following which trade turned to pearls and [[teakwood|teak-wood]].<ref name="hindustantimes">{{cite news|title=Prospering relations of Kuwait and India|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/Features/Prospering-relations-of-Kuwait-and-India/Article1-816052.aspx|access-date=13 March 2013|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=February 23, 2012}}</ref>

Diplomatic relations between the countries began in June 1962 with the appointment of Yacoub Abdulaziz al-Rasheed as the first Kuwaiti Ambassador to India.<ref name="hindustantimes" /> India was among the earliest countries to recognise Kuwaiti independence<ref>{{cite book|last=Heptullah|first=Najma|title=Indo-West Asian Relations: The Nehru Era|year=1991|publisher=Allied Publishers|location=New Delhi|page=307|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BXWFlKwemEQC&q=india+kuwait+relations&pg=PA307|isbn=9788170233404}}</ref> while Kuwait was one of the first countries to extend support to India during the [[India-China War|war with China in 1962]]. During the 1950s and 1960s [[Bombay]] was a hub for many Kuwaiti businesses and the emir himself maintained a house there on the [[Marine Drive, Mumbai|Marine Drive]].<ref>{{cite book|last=Grover|first=Verinder|title=West Asia and India's Foreign Policy|year=1992|publisher=Deep and Deep Publications|location=New Delhi|page=370|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5ZpWFwL3j68C&q=india+kuwait+relations&pg=PA368|isbn=9788171003433}}</ref>
While relations between the countries have traditionally been warm, they were strained in the early 1990s due to India's pro-[[Iraq]] stance following [[Iraqi invasion of Kuwait|Iraq's invasion of Kuwait]]. India declined an audience to the Kuwaiti ambassador in New Delhi, sided with Iraq during the [[Gulf War]] and became the only country to shift its embassy from Kuwait to [[Basra]] during the war. The [[Babri Masjid demolition|demolition of the Babri Masjid]] also impacted ties with Kuwait calling for Prime Minister [[PV Narasimha Rao|Narasimha Rao]] to rebuild the structure and hand it over to [[Indian Muslims]]. The [[Government of Kuwait]] however was quick to act against calls for dismissing Hindu employees from Kuwaiti firms and for shutting shops to protest against India. In 1992, the [[Foreign Minister of India|External Affairs Minister]] [[Madhavsinh Solanki]] pulled off a "diplomatic triumph" on his visit to Kuwait that helped overcome the strains that had crept into bilateral ties. In 1994, the Kuwait government struck down a proposal in the [[Kuwait National Assembly]] that called for a ban on entry and recruitment of [[Hindu]] workers in Kuwait to prevent any worsening of relations with a "friendly India".<ref>{{cite book|last=Ghosh|first=Anjali|title=India's Foreign Policy|year=2009|publisher=Dorling Kindersley|location=New Delhi|page=314|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y32u4JMroQgC&q=india+kuwait+relations&pg=PA314|isbn=9788131710258}}</ref>

=== Bilateral visits ===
There has been regular high level bilateral [[state visits]] between the two countries. [[Vice President of India|Vice-Presidents of India]], [[Zakir Hussain (politician)|Dr Zakir Husain]] in 1965 and [[Hamid Ansari]] in 2009 and [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]] [[Indira Gandhi]] in 1981 have led Indian visits to Kuwait while the [[Crown prince|Crown Prince]] and [[Prime Minister of Kuwait|Prime Minister]] [[Sabah Al Salim Al Sabah|Sheikh Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah]] in 1964, the [[Emir of Kuwait|Emir]] Sheikh [[Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah|Jaber Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]] in 1980 and 1983 and the Emir Sheikh [[Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah|Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah]] in 2006 have led state visits from Kuwait to India.<ref>{{cite web|title=India-Kuwait Relations|url=http://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Kuwait-February-2012.pdf|publisher=Ministry of External Affairs|access-date=13 March 2013}}</ref>

== Indians in Kuwait ==
Indians form one of the largest [[Indians in Kuwait|expatriate communities in Kuwait]] numbering about 640,000 people. Their presence in white collar jobs have been increasing consistently especially in the electronic, industrial, architectural and engineering sectors. Kuwait's Ministry of Health also employs a significant number of Indian medics and paramedics.<ref name="hindustantimes" /> Indians have been described by the Emir's special envoy as having acquired a special space in Kuwait as "a brilliant and the least problematic expatriate community which works for the overall development of Kuwait".<ref>{{cite news|title=Indians 'Least Problematic' Community In Kuwait: Envoy|url=http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/193143/reftab/36/Default.aspx|access-date=13 March 2013|newspaper=Arab Times|date=15 February 2013}}</ref> There are however a large number of Indians working in low paying jobs and in 2011 as many as 22,000 Indians were found to be staying illegally in Kuwait and the [[List of diplomatic missions of India|Indian embassy in Kuwait]] facilitated the departure of 12,825 Indian nationals to India following the declaration of an Amnesty in Kuwait.<ref>{{cite news|title=22,000 Indians Among 95,000 Illegals Still Living In Kuwait|url=http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/184555/reftab/36/Default.aspx|access-date=13 March 2013|newspaper=Arab Times|date=June 16, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Indian Embassy Extends Help To '12,825 Nationals'|url=http://www.arabtimesonline.com/NewsDetails/tabid/96/smid/414/ArticleID/170343/reftab/36/Default.aspx|access-date=13 March 2013|newspaper=Arab Times|date=June 15, 2011}}</ref> Indians in Kuwait remit over US$3 billion annually to India and Kuwait is home to 300 Indian associations and 18 [[List of schools in Kuwait#Indian schools|Indian schools]] affiliated to the [[Central Board of Secondary Education]], [[New Delhi]].<ref name="indo-kuwaitfriendshipsociety">{{cite web|title=India-Kuwait Relations|url=http://www.indo-kuwaitfriendshipsociety.com/india_kuwait_relations.html|publisher=Indo-Kuwait Friendship Society|access-date=13 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121118063614/http://www.indo-kuwaitfriendshipsociety.com/india_kuwait_relations.html|archive-date=18 November 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Economic relations ==

=== Trade ===
The Kuwaiti economy, before the discovery of oil, depended heavily on maritime activities and trade. Kuwait was a centre for [[ship-building]] and [[pearl diving]] and [[fishing]] were important commercial activities. Until 1961 the [[Indian Rupee]] was the [[legal tender]] in Kuwait and Indo–Kuwaiti commerce revolved around trade in agricultural goods, textiles and horses.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes">{{cite news|title=Kuwait - India Relations: A holistic over view |url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-23/kuwait/37257192_1_kuwait-and-india-bilateral-trade-electrical-machinery-and-equipment |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130411040006/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-23/kuwait/37257192_1_kuwait-and-india-bilateral-trade-electrical-machinery-and-equipment |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 11, 2013 |access-date=13 March 2013 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=February 23, 2013 }}</ref>

In 2011–12, [[bilateral trade]] amounted to US$17.56 billion, marking a 44% rise over the previous year. [[Petroleum]] accounts for the bulk of the trade, with the non-oil trade accounting for only US$1.9 billion. The [[balance of trade]] is heavily in favour of Kuwait with Indian exports to Kuwait amounting to a mere US$1.1 billion in 2011–12. Petroleum imports worth US$15.67 billion from Kuwait makes it India's second largest supplier of oil from the [[Gulf Cooperation Council|GCC countries]] next only to [[Saudi Arabia]].<ref>{{cite news|title=High-level delegation from Kuwait to visit India this month|url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/international/high-level-delegation-from-kuwait-to-visit-india-this-month-113030400199_1.html|access-date=13 March 2013|newspaper=Business Standard|date=March 4, 2013}}</ref> Indian exports to Kuwait in 2011–12 consisted of value added goods such as [[Iron and steel industry|iron and steel products]], [[boilers]], machinery and mechanical appliances, [[Electrical industry|electrical machinery and equipment]] and food items.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes" /> Kuwait is India's third largest trade partner in the [[Arab world]] and it accounted for 3.34% of India's global imports in 2011. India is however Kuwait's second largest export market and its fifth largest source of imports and has consistently been among the top ten trading partners of Kuwait with bilateral trade doubling to US$17.5 billion in 2011–12 from US$8.35 billion in 2007–08.<ref>{{cite web|title=India – Kuwait Economic Relations|url=http://www.ficci.com/international/75149/Project_docs/India-Kuwait-Economic-Relations.pdf|publisher=FICCI|access-date=13 March 2013}}{{Dead link|date=January 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

=== Investments ===
Indian [[Public-sector undertaking|public sector companies]] in the [[Insurance in India|insurance]] and aviation sectors have offices in Kuwait, while private companies including [[Larsen & Toubro]], [[Punj Lloyd]] and [[Kalpataru]] have implemented major projects in Kuwait including in its petroleum and power sectors. [[Alghanim Industries|The Al-Ghanim Group]], the KAPICO group, Global Investment House and Kuwait Finance House are the important Kuwaiti companies in India.<ref name="timesofindia.indiatimes" /> India has in recent years mooted joint-venture projects between the two countries towards establishing new facilities in the [[Oil and gas industry|oil and gas sector]] in both countries,<ref>{{cite news|title=India, Kuwait agree to speed up oil and gas joint ventures|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/business-news/WorldEconomy/India-Kuwait-agree-to-speed-up-oil-and-gas-joint-ventures/Article1-1024681.aspx|access-date=13 March 2013|newspaper=Hindustan Times|date=March 11, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=India, Kuwait agree to speed up oil and gas joint ventures|url=http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/article1497393.ece|access-date=13 March 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=11 March 2013}}</ref> while Kuwait has welcomed Indian companies to bid for projects in Kuwait as it undertakes a massive infrastructure development programme.<ref>{{cite news|title=Kuwait seeks to expand trade with India|url=http://newindianexpress.com/business/news/article1493555.ece|access-date=13 March 2013|newspaper=The New Indian Express|date=8 March 2013}}</ref>

== Technical cooperation==
India and Kuwait have signed several agreements relating to scientific and technological cooperation including medical cooperation and in the areas of culture and education.<ref>{{cite news|title=India, Kuwait ink agreements on education, culture|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/india-kuwait-ink-agreements-on-education-culture/444570|access-date=13 March 2013|newspaper=The Indian Express|date=April 8, 2009}}</ref> There are also agreements between Indian and Kuwaiti institutions of higher education and research and agreements on [[Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement|avoidance of Double Taxation]], drug reduction and prevention of illicit trafficking in [[narcotic drugs]] and programmes for cultural and information exchanges between Kuwait and India.<ref name="indo-kuwaitfriendshipsociety" /><ref>{{cite web|title=Kuwait India Relations|url=http://kuwaitembassy.in/Relations.html|publisher=Embassy of Kuwait, Delhi|access-date=13 March 2013}}</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Indians in Kuwait]]

== External links ==
*[http://indembkwt.org/ Embassy of India in Kuwait]
*[http://kuwaitembassy.in Embassy of Kuwait, Delhi]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Foreign relations of India}}
{{Foreign relations of Kuwait}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:India-Kuwait relations}}
[[Category:India–Kuwait relations| ]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of India|Kuwait]]
[[Category:Bilateral relations of Kuwait]]