Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Riyadh on Saturday in his first two-day visit to Saudi Arabia
Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Saudi officials in Riyadh on Saturday. Mr. Modi is on a two-day visit to the kingdom.
It is expected that the fight against terrorism and radicalisation to figure high on the agenda of his talks with the leaders of Saudi Arabia.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Riyadh on Saturday
in his first two-day visit to Saudi oil- rich kingdom that the two countries
are set to finalize a series of agreements to strengthen their strategic
alliance, and explore ways to improve safety and the fight against terrorism
cooperation.
It is expected that the fight against the threat of
terrorism and radicalization to figure on the agenda of the talks between Mr.
Modi and the leadership of Saudi Arabia, a country known as the spiritual home
of Islam. Riad has recently formed a major coalition of 34 Muslim nations to
fight terrorism, in particular the Islamic State.
India’s ties with Saudi Arabia, one of the leading oil
producers in the world, have been on an upswing over the past two decades based
on the burgeoning energy ties and both countries can seem to go beyond the
buyer-seller in the sector and go for joint ventures businesses and investment
in refineries and oil fields.
In this context, Mr. Modi may seek greater participation of
Indian companies in oil and gas projects in the sector upstream and downstream
in the Gulf nation whose economy has been hit by falling oil prices, cut by oil
exports and slowing domestic consumption.
The Prime Minister will hold extensive talks with King
Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud series of bilateral issues, on Sunday after which
both sides will sign a number of memorandums of understanding. On the other
hand, he will also meet with Crown Prince and Interior Minister Naif Bin
Mohammed and Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammed bin Salman.
The prime minister arrived in Riyadh from Washington on the
final leg of his three-nation tour, which began on March 30, 2016 and a visit
to Brussels.
Security and counter-terrorism cooperation between India and
Saudi had got a boost after the visit of then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to
Riyadh for six years during which both countries have raised their ties to the
level of strategic partnership.
The Security cooperation has improved since then.
Riyadh has close ties with Islamabad and India may raise the
issue of terrorist groups based in Pakistan who carry out attacks against him.
Mr. Modi had visited UAE, another close ally of Pakistan, in August and both
sides, in a joint statement had called on all States to abandon the use of
terror against other countries was seen as a message to Islamabad .
Mr. Modi and his delegation are staying at the Guest Palace
King Saud in the heart of the city.
Mr. Narendra Modi is the fourth Prime Minister of India to visit SaudiArabia after Dr. Singh in 2010, Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru in 1982 in
1956.
Mr. Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia amid the current turmoil in
the Middle East and the issue is likely to feature prominently in the
discussions that will take the leadership of Saudi place.
There are more than 2.96 million Indian nationals working in
Saudi Arabia, the largest foreign community in the country, and it is expected
that Mr. Modi to raise issues concerning them during their talks with the king.
Mr. Modi commitments include meeting rooms CEOs of major
companies of Saudi Arabia, visit the famous Masmak fort, interaction with the
Indian community and visit a center of Tata Consultancy Services, which had
trained more than 1,000 women Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia plans to invest $ 1 trillion in infrastructure
development over the next five years and is likely Mr. Modi to launch with the
participation of Indian companies in projects.
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