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Gulf stability is India’s concern

KUWAIT CITY: Seeking long term stability in the region as the basis for a durable partnership, India and Kuwait have held a major brainstorming session on ways to combat terrorism and to identify areas for industrial tie-ups in the future.

Briefing the media on visiting Vice-President M. Hamid Ansari’s talks with Kuwaiti leaders, Secretary (East) in the Ministry of External Affairs N.Ravi said discussions on terrorism featured prominently during the talks at the highest level.

Mr. Ansari, on Tuesday called, on Kuwait’s Emir Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah. He also met the acting Prime Minister and Defence Minister Sheikh Jaber Mubarak Al Hamad Al Sabah, as well as Ministers for Oil, Foreign Affairs and Finance. Agreements on a cultural exchange programme, science and technology and education were also signed.

Diplomatic sources told The Hindu that substantial discussions were held on the necessity of attacking global terrorism networks. The situation in Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan were also discussed in depth.

Besides, India cited its shared concerns with the Gulf countries over energy security and safety of sea lanes.

Addressing a meeting organised by the Kuwait Chambers of Commerce Industry, Mr. Ansari stressed freedom of navigation and safety of sea lanes and access to markets for trade, technology, investments and workforce would propel India-Gulf relationship in the future. He added that India was evolving a “look-west” policy of engaging the Gulf countries on the lines of the “look east” policy that New Delhi has pursued with the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

Kuwaiti businessmen on their part said Kuwait should become the gateway for transiting goods between India and Iraq. Southern Iraq shares a border with Kuwait, whose large port can handle bulk quantities of merchandise bound for Iraq.

Mr. Ravi acknowledged that the global economic crisis could restrain economic activity between India and Kuwait. However, tie-ups in the fields of fertilisers, power generation and distribution, management of ports and airports as would be prioritised in the future.

The fourth meeting of India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is on the anvil to help clinch a free trade area agreement. The GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman.

Mr. Ansari said that the resource-rich Gulf countries could partner India’s infrastructural development which would absorb $500 billion the next 10 years. India was likely to emerge as the world’s third largest consumer of oil in 2030 and its reliance on the Gulf was likely to increase substantially in the future.

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