IRAN

Prime Minister congratulates H.E Masoud Pezeshkian on being elected as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 6 July 2024

The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has congratulated H.E Masoud Pezeshkian on being elected as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The Prime Minister posted on X:

“Congratulations @drpezeshkian on your election as the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Looking forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our warm and long-standing bilateral relationship for the benefit of our peoples and the region.” Source: Press Information Bureau.

Minister of Road Transport and Highways represents Government of India at the swearing-in ceremony of President H.E. Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian of Iran, 30 July 2024

Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways attended the swearing-in ceremony of H.E. Dr. Masoud Pezeshkian, the President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, in Tehran on 30 July 2024.

2. On the occasion, Minister Nitin Gadkari conveyed good wishes from Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi to President Pezeshkian on assuming office.

3. During Minister Nitin Gadkari's interactions in Iran, both sides positively assessed the state of bilateral relations, including cooperation on the development of Chabahar Port. Both sides underscored that Chabahar Port would contribute to strengthening bilateral and regional trade. It would provide access to landlocked Afghanistan and Central Asian countries to regional and global markets. Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India.

KUWAIT

6th India-Kuwait Foreign Office Consultations, 24 July 2024

The 6th round of India-Kuwait Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) was held on 24 July 2024 in Kuwait. The Indian delegation was led by Mr Aseem R. Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf) (JS), Ministry of External Affairs. H.E. Ambassador Sameeh Essa Johar Hayat, Assistant Foreign Minister for Asia Affairs of Kuwait (AFM), headed the Kuwaiti delegation.

2. During the FOC, both sides undertook a comprehensive review of bilateral relationship and exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. Expressing satisfaction with the traditionally strong bilateral ties, both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in various areas, including political ties, regular high-level exchanges, trade and investment, education, technology, health, culture and people to people contacts.

3. JS called on H.E. Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. At the meeting, he discussed avenues and new initiatives to deepen the India-Kuwait partnership. Earlier on 23 July, he met H.E. Mr. Ziyad Al-Najem, Undersecretary, Ministry of Commerce and discussed avenues to further strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation including further boosting bilateral trade, diversifying the trade basket, deepening energy cooperation and new initiatives in technology and Fintech . In his meeting with H.E. Ms. Tahani Rashid Al-Naseer, Assistant Foreign Minister (Legal), MOFA, discussions pertained for early finalization of ongoing negotiations of various agreements and MoUs.

4. The timely convening of the FOC in continuation of the previous FOC in May, 2023 is expected to impart further momentum in bilateral relations. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the outcome of the consultations. It was agreed to hold the next FoC in New Delhi at a mutually convenient time. Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India.

QATAR

Indian delegation visits Doha for India-Qatar Joint Working Group Meeting, 12 July 2024

An Indian delegation comprising of officers from Department of Commerce and other Ministries and organizations held a Joint Working Group (JWG) meeting with Qatari side in Doha on 10th July, 2024.

Both sides also reviewed the progress of ongoing discussions for Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) on Food Safety and Cooperation in exchange of pre-arrival information for facilitation of trade and customs control on goods and agreed to conclude them expeditiously. Both sides agreed to expeditiously address all issues impeding bilateral trade and facilitate trade promotion between the two countries.

Both sides discussed the possible mechanism to activate the Joint Business Council to carry out its assigned role in following up and implementing the private sector’s visions and proposals for trade and investment cooperation.

Both sides undertook a detailed review of recent developments in bilateral trade and economic cooperation and noted that the relationship has a huge potential to be scaled up even further. To this effect, both sides identified several areas of focus for enhancing both bilateral trade as well as mutually beneficial cooperation sectors. These include Gems and Jewellery, cooperation between customs authorities, trade in local currency, pharmaceuticals, food processing and food security, cooperation in MSME, etc.

The JWG meeting was co-chaired by Economic Advisor, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, Ms. Priya P. Nair and Director of International Cooperation and Trade Agreements at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of the State of Qatar, Mr. Saleh Al-Mana.

Bilateral trade between India and Qatar stood at USD 14.08 billion in 2023-24. India is the second largest trading partner to Qatar. Both sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the JWG in 2025, in New Delhi. The deliberations of the first session of India-Qatar JWG were cordial and forward-looking, reflecting the friendly and special relations between the two countries. Source: Press Information Bureau.

SAUDI ARABIA

India- Saudi Arabia hold first meeting of the High-Level Task Force on Investments, 28 July 2024

The first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia High Level Task Force on Investments, co-chaired by the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister H.E. Dr. P.K. Mishra and the Saudi Energy Minister His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was held today, in virtual mode.

The two sides reviewed the discussions held between the technical teams of the Task force. 

Constructive discussions were held on various opportunities for bilateral investments in diverse areas in public and private sector, including refining and petrochemical plants, new and renewable energy, power, telecom, innovation, among others.

The two sides had a detailed review of the measures aimed at promoting two-way investments in a mutually beneficial manner.

Principal Secretary to PM reiterated the firm intention of the Government of India to provide active support to Saudi investments of the order of US$ 100 billion that were committed during the visit of the Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia.  

The two sides agreed to regular consultations between technical teams on both sides to take forward the discussions and reach an agreement on specific investments. An empowered delegation led by Secretary Petroleum will visit Saudi Arabia for follow up discussions on the mutually beneficial investment in oil and gas sector. Saudi Side was also invited to set up an office of the Sovereign Wealth Fund PIF in India.

Principal Secretary invited the Minister of Energy of Saudi Arabia to India for the next round of the meeting of the High Level Task Force.

The High-Level Task Force is a special body to facilitate bilateral investments following the decision taken by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Crown Prince and Prime Minister His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud during the latter’s State Visit to India in September 2023. It comprises of senior officials from both sides, including CEO Niti Aayog, Secretaries for Economic Affairs, Commerce, MEA, DPIIT, Petroleum and Natural Gas, Power from India. Source: Press Information Bureau.

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

12th Joint Defence Cooperation Committee meeting between India & UAE held in Abu Dhabi to strengthen bilateral defence & security ties, 9 July 2024

The 12th edition of the Joint Defence Cooperation Committee (JDCC) meeting between India and UAE was held in Abu Dhabi on July 09, 2024. During the meeting, the two sides discussed a wide range of opportunities for collaboration to further strengthen defence and security cooperation between the two countries. Detailed discussions were held in areas such as training, joint military exercises, defence industrial cooperation, subject matter expert exchange, R&D etc.

Both sides deliberated on the regional security situation, including maritime security, and underscored the need to enhance collaboration to tackle the security challenges. Exchanging visits in different domains to benefit from experience and knowledge of each other was also discussed. Mutual exchange of training opportunities in niche areas was also agreed.

The Indian delegation, led by Joint Secretary, Shri Amitabh Prasad, included senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces and the Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi. The meeting was co-chaired by Brig. General Staff Jamal Ebrahim Mohamed Almazrooqi from the UAE side.

During the visit, Joint Secretary Shri Amitabh Prasad met with Assistant Under Secretary, Ministry of Defence, UAE Mr Ali Abdulla Al Ahmed and held discussion on bilateral defence cooperation. He had a productive meeting with the CEO of the Tawazun Economic Council. Staff talks between the Navy and Army of the two countries were also conducted on the sidelines of the JDCC. Service specific cooperation was discussed in detail.

The India-UAE JDCC was established in 2006. Since then, 11 rounds have been held. The 12th meeting provided an opportunity to further augment India’s defence and security relations with the UAE, strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.  Source: Press Information Bureau.

India-France-UAE Trilateral Focal Points Meeting, 10 July 2024

The Second India-France-UAE Trilateral Focal Points Meeting was convened through virtual conference, on July 9, 2024. Indian side was led by Shri Piyush Srivastava, Joint Secretary (Europe West) and Shri Aseem R Mahajan, Joint Secretary (Gulf), Ministry of External Affairs. The French delegation was led by Mr. Timothée Truelle, Head of South Asia Division, Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the UAE side was headed by H.E. Mr. Saeed Mubarak Al-Hajeri, Assistant Minister for Economic and Trade Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The participants reviewed the progress in the trilateral cooperation across all areas under the Joint Roadmap agreed upon by the three Foreign Ministers in February 2023. They discussed new initiatives to further strengthen trilateral cooperation, including in the areas of multilateral cooperation, economy and infrastructure, digital and innovation, energy and environment, culture, education and people to people exchanges.

India, France and UAE reaffirmed their commitment to further build constructive ties among the three countries through concrete initiatives in areas of mutual interest and agreed to meet at regular intervals, as per a work plan, to review the progress in all synergetic areas. Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India.

YEMEN

Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Yemen, 26 July 2024

Dr. Suhel Ajaz Khan (IFS: 1997), presently Ambassador of India to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has been concurrently accredited as the next Ambassador of India to the Republic of Yemen, with residence in Riyadh.

2. He is expected to take up the assignment shortly. Source: Ministry of External Affairs, India.

As part of the policy, the MEI@ND standardizes spellings and date format to make the text uniformly accessible and stylistically consistent. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views/positions of the MEI@ND. Editor, MEI@ND P R Kumaraswamy