Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to make a historic two-day visit to Kuwait this Saturday, marking the first time in over four decades that an Indian prime minister will visit the Gulf nation. This visit holds great significance, as the last prime ministerial trip to Kuwait was undertaken by the late Indira Gandhi in 1981. The most recent high-level engagement from India was the visit of former Vice President Hamid Ansari in 2009.

The Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, invited PM Modi to hold high-level discussions with the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Kuwait. The goal of these talks is to examine and strengthen partnerships in important domains like trade, energy, investment, culture, and the long-standing interpersonal relationships between the two countries. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, "This visit is expected to open a new chapter in India-Kuwait relations," highlighting its potential to fortify current alliances while pursuing new lines of collaboration. 

PM Modi will attend several important events during the tour, including a labour camp visit where he will meet Indian blue-collar workers in Kuwait, reflecting India’s commitment to its diaspora, who form the largest expatriate community in Kuwait, numbering one million; a community event, the much-anticipated ‘Hala Modi’ event at Sheikh Saad Al Abdullah Sports Complex, set to celebrate India-Kuwait ties and the vibrant Indian diaspora’s contributions to the host nation; and the opening ceremony of the prestigious Gulf Cup football tournament. The visit coincides with ongoing discussions on a bilateral investment treaty and a defence cooperation agreement, as confirmed by Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary for Overseas Indian Affairs in the Ministry of External Affairs.

Since Kuwait currently leads the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), Prime Minister Modi’s visit is expected to strengthen India’s ties with the influential group, which includes Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait.

In 2022-23, India’s trade with GCC countries reached an impressive $184.46 billion, highlighting the region’s importance to India’s economic and strategic goals. Being the sixth-largest exporter of crude oil and providing 3% of India's energy needs, Kuwait is an important partner for the country.

In 2023–2024, bilateral commerce between the two nations totalled $10.47 billion, with Indian exports increasing 34.7 per cent annually. Notably, the Kuwait Investment Authority, the country's sovereign wealth fund, has made over $10 billion in investments in India, strengthening the two countries' financial connections.