Kuwait Amb. stresses efforts to consolidate ties with India

NEW DELHI, Kuwait Ambassador to India Meshal Al-Shemali called on Tuesday for intensifying efforts to deepen existing relations between India and Kuwait and diversify them into new fields. In a statement to Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) after meeting with Indian Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar in New Delhi, the ambassador said that during their talks, bilateral issues of mutual interest and ways to enhance cooperation mechanism between the two countries in economic, political, cultural and social fields came up for discussion. The ambassador also congratulated Jaishankar on his reappointment to the post of Minister of External Affairs following the parliamentary elections and subsequent formation of the new government. He stressed that the days to come will witness visits by officials of the two countries at different levels, which will include political consultations and joint ministerial meetings covering various sectors. He also stressed the importance of strengthening trade relations, which hav e witnessed significant development recently, as the total bilateral trade with Kuwait during the past fiscal year amounted to USD 10.47 billion marking an annual growth of 34.7 percent. Kuwait is the ninth largest oil suppliers to India meeting 3 percent of India's total energy needs. He quoted the Indian minister as extending his sincere thanks to the leadership and government of Kuwait for their efforts and interest in supporting Indians in the background of the tragic fire accident that occurred at a residential area, killing approximately 49 people from the Indian community residing in Kuwait. Source: Kuwait News Agency