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PM Modi in Kuwait: He also said video calling is very cheap in India and people can stay connected with their family members
PM Modi addressing the ‘Hala Modi’ event in Kuwait. (Photo: MEA)
PM Modi, who is on a two-day historic visit to Kuwait, visited Gulf Spic Labour Camp and interacted with Indian workers. He told them that India has the cheapest mobile internet in the world.
#WATCH | Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Gulf Spic Labour Camp and interacted with Indian workers, in Kuwait yesterday.PM Modi, says “India has the cheapest data (internet) and if we want to talk online anywhere in the world or even in India, then the cost is much less.… pic.twitter.com/bAq5b01QTF
— ANI (@ANI) December 22, 2024
He said, “ndia has the cheapest data (internet) and if we want to talk online anywhere in the world or even in India, then the cost is much less. Even if you do video conference, the cost is very low. People have a great convenience, they can speak to their family members every evening through video conference.”
Modi arrived in Kuwait on Saturday on a two-day visit, the first by an Indian prime minister in over four decades.
In an interview with the Kuwait News Agency (KUNA), Modi voiced willingness to help efforts that could lead to an early restoration of peace in Gaza and Ukraine, asserting solutions to such conflicts cannot be found in the battlefield.
He emphasised the importance of sincere and practical engagement between the stakeholders for bridging differences and achieving negotiated settlements.
Modi also reiterated India’s support for a negotiated two-state solution towards the establishment of a sovereign, independent and viable state of Palestine within secure and recognised borders, according to the interview.
With Kuwait standing as India’s sixth largest crude supplier and fourth largest LPG supplier, Modi said the scope for further collaboration is immense as his country emerges as the third biggest global energy, oil and LPG consumer. Kuwait holds around 6.5 per cent of global oil reserves, he said.
Modi said that the petrochemical sector offers another promising avenue for collaboration as India’s rapidly growing petrochemical industry is set to become USD 300 billion by 2025.
The energy partnership between the two countries is not only a pillar of economic relationship but also a driver for diversified and sustainable growth, setting a path towards a future of shared prosperity, he said.
Modi described the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), an organisation of six Middle East countries, including Kuwait, having vital significance for India.
India’s relationship with the Gulf is rooted in historical, cultural and trade linkages, with the GCC region accounting for around one-sixth of India’s total trade and hosting around one-third of the Indian diaspora, he said.
Around nine million Indians residing in the region are contributing positively to its economic growth, he added.
The prime minister said the Indian community acts as a living bridge between the two countries.
Trade and commerce, which have been on an upswing, have served as important pillars of their bilateral relationship, he said.
In the interview, he expressed happiness with ‘Made in India’ products, particularly in automobile, electrical and mechanical machinery and telecom sector, making inroads in Kuwait.
He said India today is manufacturing world-class products at a most affordable cost, stressing that diversification to non-oil trade is key to achieving greater bilateral trade.
Modi added that there is a considerable potential to expand bilateral cooperation in the pharmaceutical, health, technology, digital, innovation and textile sectors.
India and Kuwait share a deep and historic bond and the relationship between both countries has always been one of warmth and friendship, he said, adding that the crosscurrents of history and exchanges through ideas and commerce have brought people close and together.
(With PTI inputs)