KUWAIT: Ambassador of India to Kuwait Dr Adarsh Swaika highlighted recent high-level meetings aimed at strengthening India-Kuwait relations. "During the meetings, Kuwait’s leadership expressed strong interest in deepening ties with India, particularly in trade, infrastructure development and investments, and emphasized the desire for greater participation of Indian companies in Kuwait’s growth sectors,” he told journalists.
On the trade front, the Indian ambassador noted: "Our exports reached $2 billion last year, with diversification into new sectors. Rice remains a key export, but we are now seeing increased interest in areas such as telecommunications equipment and Indian-made cars.”
Dr Swaika added that a recent delegation of 40 to 50 Indian companies from the food and agro sectors visited Kuwait and had productive interactions with Kuwaiti importers. "Our cooperation in agriculture and food safety is also growing, as seen by the visit of Kuwait’s Public Authority for Food and Nutrition to India’s largest food event, World Food India,” he said.
Swaika mentioned Kuwaiti investments in India are increasing. "We have seen more engagement from Kuwait’s investment agencies, signaling a positive trend. Regarding the Indian community here, we have crossed the 1 million mark. Regulatory changes in Kuwait, such as easing restrictions on family visas, have been warmly welcomed by our expatriate community. As a result, we are seeing renewed interest in the labor market, with more professionals such as doctors, engineers, and nurses arriving in Kuwait,” he noted.
On Kuwaiti investments in India, he said: "I believe India is a growing hotspot for global investment. Last year, India saw $70 billion in foreign investment, part of over $600 billion in the last decade. With a consistent growth rate of 7-8 percent, India is on track to become the third-largest economy in the world, offering ample opportunities for Kuwaiti investors. We’re actively sharing the India growth story with our partners in Kuwait, and I am optimistic about the future.”
Regarding Indian companies’ participation in Kuwait’s mega projects, the ambassador stated: "I’m pleased to report that several have contributed significantly. For example, the Al Sabah Hospital and the new Kuwait University campus are both being built by Indian firms. Under the GCC project, two Indian companies are working on the Kuwait-Iraq electricity interconnection, while another Indian firm is responsible for the South Sura Road project.
Indian companies are particularly interested in sectors like pharmaceuticals, real estate and food processing. We encourage companies to explore opportunities in Kuwait’s upcoming special economic zones. Indian firms are showing more interest in registering through the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority, with a few already taking that route.”
In line with the global focus on sustainability, Dr Swaika revealed that the embassy is launching an environmental campaign inspired by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s initiative to plant a tree in the name of one’s mother. This will be done in collaboration with UN-Habitat and Farwaniya governorate in Kuwait.
The ambassador also spoke about recent cultural developments. "Kuwait Radio started a Hindi language program, which was appreciated by our Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his radio address. Additionally, we signed an MoU with a private university to introduce Hindi language courses, with a professor from India expected to arrive soon. We’re planning various events in the coming months, including a large tourism event, a musical concert by a renowned Indian musician in November and a start-up conference in December to explore mutual opportunities,” he said.
"I believe we are entering a dynamic and exciting phase of India-Kuwait relations, with growing cooperation in trade, culture and investment. Both countries are eager to deepen this partnership, and I look forward to more high-level engagements in the coming months,” Dr Swaika concluded.