India and Kuwait held their 6th round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) in Kuwait on Wednesday, further solidifying their relationship and exploring new avenues for cooperation. The Indian delegation was led by Aseem R. Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf) from the Ministry of External Affairs, while the Kuwaiti side was headed by Ambassador Sameeh Essa Johar Hayat, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asia Affairs.
The two sides took this opportunity to conduct a thorough review of their bilateral relations. They discussed a wide range of topics and exchanged views on both regional and international issues that are of mutual interest. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) highlighted that both nations expressed satisfaction with their traditionally strong ties and agreed to bolster cooperation in several key areas.
Areas of focus for enhanced cooperation include political relations, regular high-level exchanges, trade and investment, as well as sectors such as education, technology, health, culture, and people-to-people contacts. This comprehensive approach aims to deepen the partnership between India and Kuwait across various dimensions.
During the consultations, Aseem R. Mahajan also met with Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kuwait. Their discussions centered on exploring new initiatives to strengthen the India-Kuwait partnership, signaling a proactive approach to fostering closer ties.
Earlier in the week, on July 23, Mahajan had a meeting with Ziyad Al-Najem, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce. This meeting was focused on enhancing bilateral trade and investment. The discussions aimed to boost bilateral trade, diversify the trade basket, and explore deeper energy cooperation, as well as new initiatives in technology and fintech.
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Additionally, Mahajan met with Tahani Rashid Al-Naseer, the Assistant Foreign Minister (Legal) at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. They discussed the progress of ongoing negotiations concerning various agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs), with a focus on finalizing these agreements as soon as possible.
The timely holding of this FOC, coming shortly after the previous round in May 2023, is expected to further energize the bilateral relationship. Both sides expressed their contentment with the outcomes of these consultations and agreed to convene the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi at a mutually convenient time.
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