‘One of India’s most valued partners’: PM Modi praises ‘trusted friend’ Saudi Arabia, says ties have ‘limitless potential’

Besides bilateral ties, the two leaders will also exchange views on pressing regional and global issues, including the overall situation in West Asia.

“This will be my third visit to Saudi Arabia over the past decade and a first one to the historic city of Jeddah. I look forward to participating in the 2nd Meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council and building upon the highly successful State visit of my brother His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India in 2023,” Modi said.

As a special gesture, the Prime Minister’s aircraft was escorted by F-15s of the Royal Saudi Air Force in Saudi airspace.

In an interview with Arab News, Modi said: “Our connection is not new. It is rooted in civilisational exchanges that go back centuries. From ideas to trade, there has been a constant flow between our two great nations…The formation of the Strategic Partnership Council in 2019 marked a major milestone. Since then, cooperation between us has expanded across many sectors. And let me tell you, this is just the beginning. Our partnership has limitless potential.”

“What anchors our relationship is mutual trust and goodwill. In a world full of uncertainties, our bond stands strong, as a pillar of stability. I truly believe these are promising times for India-Saudi Arabia ties. And, I must say, the Saudi leadership has played a vital role in strengthening this partnership. India and Saudi Arabia will keep moving forward together — for peace, progress and prosperity, not just for our people, but for the entire world,” he added.

Talking about Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he said: “His Royal Highness has left a deep impression on me. His insights, his forward-thinking vision, and his passion for fulfilling the aspirations of his people are truly remarkable. Under his leadership, Saudi Arabia has undergone tremendous social and economic transformation.”

PM Modi also spoke about his relationship with the Crown Prince, saying he valued the “personal warmth and trust” they shared. “And, yes, this personal rapport has naturally translated into how both countries give priority to our partnership. He is a strong advocate of our bilateral ties. He has been a great supporter of the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia and our people living in Saudi Arabia deeply admire him,” Modi said.

“When we talk, we focus on making this partnership future-ready. Jeddah has had a special connection with India. For centuries, this famed city has been one of the principal arteries for our trade and people-to-people exchanges. As a gateway to Makkah, for ages, our pilgrims have walked the by-lanes of Jeddah on their holy journey for Hajj and Umrah,” he added.

Terming the economic ties between both countries as being “as old as the monsoon winds”, Modi said: “Given the proximity of our nations and the complementarity of our economies, there is a natural connect. That is why even during global challenges, our trade ties have not just survived, but they have grown. While sectors like energy, agriculture and fertilisers are the main areas of our trade, efforts at diversification have borne fruits. Indian businesses and Saudi industry are building stronger connections.”

Modi further said that building a stronger connect between businesses and industry among both countries and enhancing investment partnership were adding resilience to India-Saudi Arabia ties. “Saudi Arabia is a leading energy partner for India. Likewise, India is contributing to food security in Saudi Arabia. I am told people in Saudi Arabia prefer Indian rice! India too loves Saudi dates,” he said.

Mentioning that he saw several “complementarities between Saudi Vision 2030 and India’s Viksit Bharat 2047”, Modi said that bilateral investments between the two countries have been increasing. “Today, the Indian growth story offers immense opportunities for Saudi majors to invest and partner, from space economy to global supply chain collaborations. Indian companies have also maintained a strong presence across various sectors in Saudi Arabia. They are playing a crucial role in the realisation of Saudi Vision 2030. Our goal is to enhance this connect,” he added.

In this context, he said that India and Saudi Arabia were working on a bilateral investment treaty. “The proposed Free Trade Agreement between India and GCC has immense potential to transform the economic relationship between India and Saudi Arabia, and the region in general,” Modi said.

He also invited Saudi companies to take advantage of the “remarkable opportunities in India as part of our Viksit Bharat journey”. “They can participate in the growth of India’s next-generation infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, healthcare, utilities, innovation, start-ups and ‘blue economy’ sectors. Deeper engagements and two-way collaborations between companies of both countries will go a long way in strengthening the bilateral economic partnership,” he added.

Modi said that the growing defence and security engagement and collaboration between the two countries is a reflection of deep mutual trust. “It is also a testament to our shared commitment to regional stability, and our mutual resolve to address the evolving challenges in our extended neighbourhood. We have seen steady progress in security cooperation. This includes areas such as counterterrorism, combating extremism, disrupting terror financing and tackling drug trafficking. We are also exploring new frontiers of cooperation in cybersecurity, recognising its growing importance in today’s interconnected world,” he said.

Last year, Modi said India and Saudi Arabia achieved an important milestone: the first-ever joint exercises between the two land forces. These were complemented by two successful rounds of the joint naval exercise Al-Mohed Al-Hindi, which were held in 2021 and 2023, he added.

“Both of us support deeper defence-industry collaboration. Over the past decade, defence manufacturing has taken deeper roots in India. Today, there is a strong military industrial complex with the ability to manufacture quality ammunition, small arms, tanks, armoured carriers. For the air force, we are building drones, advanced light helicopters and fighter jets. For the navy, we have the capacity to build patrol boats, submarines, and even aircraft carriers,” Modi said.

“We are not just fulfilling our own needs. India has also emerged as an important supplier of defence equipment to more than 100 countries around the world. I am glad that we have been able to meet some needs of the armed forces in Saudi Arabia. We support deeper engagement between private-sector players from both countries. We would welcome Saudi investment into the defence manufacturing sector in India which has been opened for private investment,” he added.

On the proposed India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor project, Modi said, “India and Saudi Arabia, along with European Union, the UAE, France, Germany, Italy and the US, jointly launched the India Middle East Europe Corridor initiative in New Delhi in September 2023. This corridor will define the future of connectivity in all forms for centuries to come. It will become the key catalyst of commerce, connectivity and growth in the entire region. The corridor will enhance connectivity in all its forms, be it physical or digital. “

He added that the corridor would facilitate the development of resilient and dependable supply chains, increase trade accessibility and improve trade facilitation. “The corridor will increase efficiencies, reduce costs, enhance economic unity, generate jobs and lower greenhouse gas emission, resulting in a transformative integration of Asia, Europe and the Middle East,” Modi said.

Modi added that both India and Saudi Arabia have a key role to play in the success of this corridor. “We are committed to working with our Saudi partners to realise the vision of connectivity, including multi-modal logistic connectivity, data connectivity and electrical grid connectivity. We are working on clean and green hydrogen and related supply chains under this initiative,” he said.

“I visualise this initiative has a transformational potential for humanity. It can be the new Silk Route of the 21st century that will bring benefit to the generations to come,” he added.

About the 2.7 million Indian community in Saudi Arabia, he expressed his gratitude to Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the patronage they have provided to the Indian community in Saudi Arabia. “We can never forget how they took care of the Indians as one of their own during the difficult times of the COVID pandemic. Indians have a very important character — whichever country they go to, they make it their home. They are law-abiding, dedicated and professional to the core. They carry with them the values of empathy, compassion and care,” Modi said.

“This very nature earns them the respect of their host country. Saudi Arabia is no exception. Whenever I have met His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, he has praised the Indian community and appreciated their significant contribution to the economic growth of the Kingdom. He has even said that they are part of the Saudi family. These words of praise always fill my heart with pride and joy,” he added.

Calling the members of the Indian diaspora “rashtradoots (national ambassadors)”, Modi, who will meet members of the Indian community on Tuesday evening, said, “The 4Cs — Care, Connect, Celebrate and Contribute — is the motto of our engagement with our diaspora. Their safety, welfare and well-being are paramount for us.”

Talking about the initiatives launched for the Indian diaspora over the past decade, Modi said, “We have established mechanisms for safe and legal migration. The 2.7 million vibrant Indian community in Saudi Arabia is a living bridge connecting our two countries. I commend them for not only preserving their values and traditions, but also promoting them.”

On the people-to-people ties, Modi said, “Our people have interacted with each other since the days of ‘Kalila wa Dimna’. The growing cultural connect between our countries is indicative of the understanding and appreciation for each other.”

“As far as religious tourism is concerned, as you know, we have a large Muslim population and they visit your beautiful country each year for Umrah and Hajj pilgrimage. We are grateful to the Saudi leadership for the continued assistance provided to Indian pilgrims. Yoga has gained considerable popularity in Saudi Arabia over the recent years, thanks to the encouragement and support of the Saudi government. We are also noticing a growing interest in cricket,” he said.

“I am told that Arab broadcasters run dedicated channels with Indian content that are very popular in the Kingdom. There is also a wide following for Indian films and actors. India is hosting the first edition of the World Audio Visual and Entertainment Summit in Mumbai during May 1-4. We look forward to a strong participation from Saudi Arabia at the summit so that we can give new wings to our cultural and entertainment collaboration,” Modi added.

He also spoke about how Indian higher education institutions were recognised globally. “They are ready to take up opportunities, as and when those arise in Saudi Arabia as well,” he said.