ANDALIB AKHTER / NEW DELHI
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit to Saudi Arabia today will be focused on Strategic Partnership between the two countries, besides other important agreements likely to be signed. An MoU is likely to be signed to establish the Strategic Partnership Council for both the countries.
The visit is expected to strengthen the existing relationship between the two countries.
Mr. Modi will reach Riyadh tonight. He will address the third session of Saudi Arabia’s Future Investment Initiative Forum tomorrow. Mr. Modi will have a bilateral meeting with Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and hold delegation-level talks with Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman. The Saudi Prince will also host a banquet dinner in his honour.
Prime Minister Modi visit to Saudi Arabia has two important components – the first is the strengthening of the bilateral relationship between the two countries and the second , where Prime Minister is the keynote speaker at the Future Investment Initiative Forum at Riyadh. Dubbed as the ‘Davos of the Desert’, the Forum projects the Kingdom as the investment hub of the region. India and Saudi Arabia are likely to sign twelve agreements in key areas like civil aviation, defence procurement, security cooperation, non-renewable energy sector during the upcoming visit.
But most importantly, an MoU is likely to be signed to establish the Strategic Partnership Council for both the countries. Prime Minister Modi will hold bilateral talks with King Salman and delegation level talks with Crown Prince Mohd bin Salman.
Around 2.6 million Indians are living in Saudi Arabia and send back remittances to the tune of 11 million dollars annually.