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Remarks by Minister of External
Affairs Shri S. M. Krishna at the
Indian Community Meeting
03/02/2010
Secretary Latha Reddy,
Ambassador Ajai Malhotra,
Distinguished representatives of the Indian community in Kuwait:
I am extremely pleased to come to Kuwait on my first official visit to
the Gulf since taking over as India’s Minister of External Affairs.
India-Kuwait relations go back many centuries and have traditionally
been close and friendly. They have been sustained by our geographical
proximity and cultural and civilisational affinities. During the
19th/20th centuries, Kuwait’s dhow trading fleet was one of the most
impressive in the Gulf and regularly visited the ports along our Western
coast. Moreover, the beautiful pearls that came from this region were
treasured across India. Many Kuwaiti families, including the ruling Al
Sabah family, have had long-standing and close association with India.
Dear friends,
The short time that I have spent in Kuwait has convinced me of the
genuine warmth and goodwill that the leadership of this country
entertains towards India and Indians. Soon after my arrival in Kuwait
today morning, I had an opportunity to pay my respects to His Highness
the Amir of Kuwait and His Highness the Prime Minister of Kuwait. I have
also had very comprehensive discussions with the Deputy Prime Minister
and Foreign Minister of Kuwait, my counterpart Sheikh Mohammed Sabah
Al-Salem Al-Sabah. I must share with you that the leadership of Kuwait
has a very positive opinion about India and Indians and the Indian
community is held in very high esteem. There is also a sense of
gratitude to you for so ably contributing to the economic well being and
development of Kuwait over many, many decades. India has traditionally
been an important partner in Kuwait’s economic development and I have
informed my interlocutors that we looked forward to a further
strengthening of our close and mutually beneficial ties.
The Indian Community in Kuwait has grown from 1,60,000 in 1990, to
3,93,000 in 2003, to 6,00,000 at present. You are easily the largest
expatriate community in Kuwait and, as Ambassador Malhotra just
mentioned, you have earned a reputation for being disciplined, hard
working, and law-abiding. You are a microcosm of India, reflective of
its vibrant diversity and its talents. We are proud of your achievements
and contribution to the development of Kuwait, even as you have brought
benefits and progress to yourselves and your families. Indians are
considered by the host country as the community of first preference in
Kuwait. On your behalf I have expressed to His Highness the Amir our
gratitude for the benevolence and care extended to the Indian community
in Kuwait.
The visits of His Highness the Amir to India in 2006 and of our Hon’ble
Vice President to Kuwait last April were important milestones for
India–Kuwait relations. They helped bring our two friendly countries
even closer together. During Vice President M. Hamid Ansari’s visit in
April 2009 it was acknowledged that there was a need for regular
bilateral exchanges for further deepening and consolidating our
relationship. It is in this context that I am visiting Kuwait.
India and the countries of the Gulf are, in a very real sense, a part of
each other’s extended neighbourhood. In fact, it may sometimes take
about the same time to fly from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, maybe longer, as
it would to fly from Mumbai to Kuwait! The well-being of India and that
of this region are interlinked. We have a vested interest to see that we
live in surroundings that are calm, where our peoples have the
opportunity to develop and prosper in the shadow of peace.
Each one of you has come here driven by your own initiative, and not
because the government has sent you. Your work was appreciated, you
carved a niche for yourself, and you are today a valued member of this
society, contributing effectively to it. Some of you have been here for
over five decades. I would like to thank each one of you, individually
and collectively, for keeping our reputation so high and for
contributing to the fine global profile of Indians, which is being
appreciated in ever increasing measure worldwide.
It is also very satisfying that there are no political issues over which
there are differences between our two countries. Instead, our ties are
characterized by warmth, mutual respect and understanding. It is also
satisfying that India-Kuwait trade has grown at a good pace and exceeded
$10.5 billion in 2009. We will continue to tap unexploited potential.
Kuwait is an important long-term partner in India’s quest for energy
security. It provides 11%-12% of India’s annual crude oil imports. A
significant component of our non-oil trade consists of Indian food
exports to Kuwait, particularly rice, eggs, fruits and vegetables. We
are committed to enhancing bilateral cooperation in the sectors of
petrochemicals, fertilizers, power generation and infrastructure. We
have today agreed on setting up a India-Kuwait Joint Mechanism on
combating International Terrorism.
In spite of the global downturn, the Indian economy grew at nearly 7% in
2009 and there is considerable scope for profitable Kuwaiti investment
into India, especially in infrastructure.
Friends, the message I bring is that India is keen to be an active
partner in promoting its bilateral relationship with Kuwait. We will
explore every avenue available so that the India-Kuwait relationship,
that is already strong and very substantive, can progress to a
qualitatively new level. In this, your cooperation and contribution will
be critically important.
Thank you very much for being here today I wish you and your families
happiness, success, and prosperity and I look forward to interacting
with you over dinner.
Kuwait,
February 3, 2010 |
