World

Modi to visit Saudi Arabia on King Salman's invitation

Indian premier says he plans to work with Saudi leadership to expand and deepen bilateral relations

News Desk March 29, 2016

PHOTO: AFP

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday that he will visit Saudi Arabia next month on the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

“On April 2 and April 3, at the invitation of HM King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, I will be visiting Saudi Arabia,” Modi said on his official Facebook page.

Analysis: Which India, Mr Modi?

The Indian premier said he plans to work with the Saudi leadership to expand and deepen bilateral relations. “ndia’s ties with Saudi Arabia are special. Robust people-to-people ties constitute a key component of our engagement,” he said.

[fbpost link="https://www.facebook.com/narendramodi/photos/a.10150164299700165.421791.177526890164/10156832486035165/?type=3&theater"]

“Our economic ties are also expanding. Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest trading partner, and is also India’s largest crude oil supplier,” he added.

Modi also stressed that prominent Saudi businessmen should partner with India’s development priorities. “That would be one of the key objectives of the business event planned in Riyadh.”

Narendra Modi to visit UAE on August 16-17

Modi further said that in addition to meeting with the Saudi king, he also looks forward to discussions with other important members of the Royal family.

The visit comes eight months after Modi visited the United Arab Emirates. In August last year, Modi visited UAE more than 34 years after then prime minister Indira Gandhi visited the UAE in May 1981.

COMMENTS (11)

Feroz | 8 years ago | Reply To confuse business relations and falsely believe that religious affiliation will lead any country to lend support, is day dreaming. Never happened before, will never happen in future. India remains the largest supplier of manpower to Saudi Arabia and likely to remain a vital customer for its Oil. Saudi Arabia also knows that India has the largest Muslim minority in the world, whose interests it would not want to hurt or alienate in any way. No sensible country will ever want to lose the friendship and support of 1.25 Billion people in a fractious world. By handing over the odd Indian terrorist that tried to hide there on some other foreign passport, Saudi Arabia has sent a signal of strong support to Indian concerns. Secondly, India remains the only country that Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran will trust to act as a bridge and narrow differences -- the other countries carrying too much baggage and agenda, also lacking knowledge of the Muslim psyche. While publicly India will refuse to play any such role, behind the curtains what it speaks will be heard and valued. Respect is always earned and commanded, it can never be demanded.

Haramullah | 8 years ago | Reply @mirestan: People like you can never grow beyond Temple, Mosque, Church or Synagogue. All these places should be left to the individuals. Real world is far more competitive than these rhetoric. If you want to be competitive and relevant you need to rise above these irrelevant thinking..

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Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply @mirestan: Don't worry, Pakistanis are the 'first' amongst Muslims and will of course flaunt that ! No 'IDOLS' for us !!

Observer | 8 years ago | Reply @liberal: India can extend relations with Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran because Arab-countries do not view it as a Muslim-majority unlike Pakistan.

Frank | 8 years ago | Reply Thanks Nawaz sharif and Imran Khan for ruining Pakistan's relations with Saudi Arabia and pushing it into India's arms. 'neutral' indeed!

Haji Atiya | 8 years ago | Reply @liberal: It certainly helps if your country has a diversified economy with a variety of goods and services to offer, like in India's case. Thus their diplomacy, to a major extent, is an extension of their economic vibrancy and their economic vibrancy is buoyed by astute doplomacy--virtuous cycle.

Umair | 8 years ago | Reply Everyone wants to partner with India...the next global super power

Sodomite | 8 years ago | Reply Pakistanis have to rid themselves of Islamic fundamentalist mindset. Then may be other people may start liking them.

mirestan | 8 years ago | Reply Next Modi will be given free land to make a temple for Hindus. Idles will return to Saudi Arabia.

liberal | 8 years ago | Reply Pak has a lot to learn from India's diplomacy. It has good relations with Iran, Israel and Saudi all at the same time.

abreez | 8 years ago | Reply A lesson for Pakistan that it should build its relations with everyone, with Iran, with Iraq, with Kurds and with Syria. Indian living in GCC countries Saudi Arabia 1789000 Bahrain 350000 Kuwait 579390 Oman 718642 Qatar 500000 UAE 1750000 Yemen 111000 Indian trade with GCC Counties United Arab Emirates Exports in (Million $) 33,028.08 Imports in (Million $) 26,139.91 Total Trade (Million $) 59,167.99 Saudi Arabia Exports in (Million $) 11,161.43 Imports in (Million $) 28,107.56 Total Trade (Million $) 39,268.98 Qatar Exports in (Million $) 1,054.98 Imports in (Million $) 14,604.71 Total Trade (Million $) 15,659.69 Kuwait Exports in (Million $) 1,198.89 Imports in (Million $) 13,381.97 Total Trade (Million $) 14,580.85

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