S.M. Krishna arrives in Kuwait

KUWAIT - Indian External Affairs Minister S. M. Krishna arrived here on Wednesday on his maiden two-day visit to strengthen existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Kuwait Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah accorded a warm welcome to Krishna at the Kuwait International Airport.

Krishna visited the Bayan Palace and met His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed, Al Jaber Al Sabah, and Amir of the Sate of Kuwait.

In the wake of the growing need for energy security for India , Krishna’s visit hold significance. According to an estimate, world energy demand increased by 95 per cent over the last 30 years and is expected to rise by 60 per cent over the next 20 years. During this period, the demand for oil is likely to increase by 42 percent while the demand for the gas will increase by 97 per cent. The demand of the Oil in the Asian countries is expected to increase from 30 million barrels per day currently to 130 million barrels per day in 2020

The bulk of this increase will be accounted for by China and India, who are together responsible for 35 per cent in the world’s increasing consumption of energy.

Kuwait is the second country after Saudi Arabia from where India imports crude oil. Kuwait is an active member of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), while India and GCC is dialogue partner.

It is estimated that during the calender year 2009 -2010 India Kuwait annual trade would be more than 10 billion US dollars.

Krishna will also meet the representatives of the Indian community in Kuwait. There are more than 600,000 people from Indian origin living in Kuwait.

The last visit of an Indian Foreign Minister to the State of Kuwait was in 1992. By Ravinder Singh Robin (ANI)