Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan embarks on Kuwait visit

New Delhi: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday embarked on a two-day visit to Kuwait to offer condolences to the Kuwaiti leadership on behalf of the Government of India on the passing away of former Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

“Look forward to meeting the new leadership in Kuwait to further strengthen the multi-faceted India-Kuwait relationship and take forward our historic relationship in diverse areas,” Mr Pradhan said in a series of tweets.

The visiting Minister will be delivering letters from President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the new leadership of Kuwait.

“I will also convey good wishes on behalf of PM Shri Narendra Modi and the people of India to HH Sheikh Nawaf Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah on assuming responsibilities as the new Emir of the State of Kuwait and HH Sheikh Mishaal Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah as the Crown Prince,” Mr Pradhan wrote.

Kuwait’s emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, also hailed as the architect of his nation’s modern diplomacy and dominated foreign policy scene in the Gulf region for long, died on September 29 at the age of 91.

Taking to the micro blogging site, Mr Modi said, “My heartfelt condolences on the sad demise of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmed Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait. In this moment of grief our thoughts are with the Al-Sabah family and the people of the State of Kuwait”.

It is worth mentioning here that during their tele talk on April 1, Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, Kuwaiti Prime Minister, assured PM Modi that that his country greatly values the contributions of the large Indian community in Kuwait, and “would continue to ensure their safety and welfare” during Covid19-related challenges.

India and Kuwait share close ties and Kuwait houses a large expatriate Indian population and is the source for 10-12 percent of India’s oil imports while India is among the largest trade partners of Kuwait.

During the erstwhile Chandrasekhar government, Union Law and Commerce Minister Dr Subramanian Swamy was deputed as a special envoy to the war-torn, ravaged country during the peak of Gulf war.