First of all let me seize this opportunity to felicitate you on the brilliant job that you are doing through your website - www.indiansinkuwait.com to inform and update the world in general and Kuwaiti and Indian audience in particular about the burgeoning relations that exist between the State of Kuwait and the Republic of India.
Your last year feature, Shukran Kuwait, deserve special mention as it has covered wide range of topics and issues right from politics to culture, traditions, art, literature, children's competition and even poetry for which your editorial staff deserve special praise and appreciations.
Kuwait India relations have always had an important trade dimension. India has consistently been among the top ten trading partners of Kuwait, and Kuwait has been a reliable third largest supplier of crude oil to India after Saudi Arabia and Iraq.
Kuwait India trade was over US$18.218 billion in 2013-14 of which non-oil trade accounted for approximately US$2.085 billion while petroleum imports from Kuwait to India were US$16.121 billion.
The preceding months have witnessed two high level official visits of His Excellency Dr.Abdulmohsen Medej Al-Medej, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Commerce and Industry of the State of Kuwait, one in November last year and the second in January this year to attend the Partnership Summit 2015 held in Jaipur from 15-17 January 2015. It indicates the significance of the strategic partnership that exists between the two friendly countries - Kuwait and India since long time.
We are also expecting important high level meetings between the State of Kuwait and the friendly Republic of India in the current year such as joint ministerial committee meeting which is a regular feature to assess the progress between the two friendly countries.
Kuwait is also seriously looking forward to play a positive role in the encouraging initiative of Make in India announced by the Indian Prime Minister, His Excellency Mr. Narendra Modi.
The current strength of Indian community in Kuwait is estimated to be around 800,000 which is rapidly increasing day by day making positive contribution in almost every field be it medical, engineering, computer science or construction labours.
To accelerate smooth flow of traffic, Kuwait Airways is trying to increase the frequency of its flights and exploring the possibility of opening new venues.
The overall scenario between the State of Kuwait and the friendly Republic of India is excellent and we hope it would touch further new heights.