PM Modi’s Kuwait visit: Agreements with Kuwait in many sectors including defense, culture, sports
New Delhi| During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s historic two-day visit, India and Kuwait agreed to elevate relations to a ‘strategic partnership’ and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to regularize bilateral cooperation in the defense sector.
Recognizing defense as an important component of the strategic partnership, both countries say the MoU will provide the necessary framework to further strengthen bilateral defense ties. This includes joint military exercises, training of defense personnel, coastal defense, maritime security and joint development and production of defense equipment.
Both sides “unequivocally condemned” terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism, and called for the disruption of terrorism financing networks and safe havens and the destruction of terrorist infrastructure.
The joint statement issued at the end of PM Modi’s visit said that while appreciating the existing bilateral cooperation in the field of security, “both sides have discussed counter-terrorism operations, information and intelligence sharing, development and exchange of experiences, best practices and technologies, capacity building and law enforcement, money-laundering, Agreed to enhance cooperation in strengthening cooperation in drug trafficking and other international crime
Promotion of cooperation in cyber security, including preventing terrorism, radicalization and use of cyber space to disturb social harmony, was also discussed.
According to the joint statement, “Both sides expressed interest in pursuing deeper cooperation in the field of technology, including emerging technologies, semiconductors and artificial intelligence”. They discussed ways to explore B2 B collaboration, advance e-governance and share best practices to facilitate the electronics and IT sector industries/companies of both countries.
The Kuwaiti side also showed interest in cooperation with India to ensure its food-security. Both sides discussed various ways of cooperation, including investment by Kuwaiti companies in food parks in India. India welcomed Kuwait’s decision to become a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA), which is an important step towards cooperation in developing and implementing low-carbon development methods and promoting sustainable energy solutions.
In addition to the existing Joint Working Group (JWG) on health, manpower and hydrocarbons, new JWGs have been established in the areas of trade, investment, education and skills development, science and technology, security and counter-terrorism, agriculture and culture.
Both sides stressed on early convening of meetings of the newly formed Joint Cooperation Commission (JCC) and the JWG under it to further expand bilateral cooperation in various fields. In addition to the Memorandum of Understanding on Defense, the Executive Programme on Cooperation in the Field of Sport for 2025-2028 and the Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) for 2025-2029 were also signed.
CEP will facilitate greater cultural exchange in art, music, dance, literature and theatre, cooperation in the preservation of cultural heritage, research and development in the field of culture and the organization of festivals.
Under the Executive Programme, to promote bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the field of sports, sports stalwarts from India and Kuwait will visit each other and share their experiences and participate in sports related programs and sports medicine, sports management, sports media, Will participate in projects in sports science and other fields.
