He highlighted the historical linkages between India and the region and spoke about the annual trade with the Gulf surpassing USD billion, alongside wide-ranging collaborations in energy, technology, infrastructure, and education.
India's engagement extends beyond the Gulf to the Mediterranean, with trade reaching USD 80 billion annually. Whether it is commerce or connectivity, ideas and beliefs, or customs and traditions, we have actually seen an interplay over centuries After independence, our economic development model resulted in a perceptible dilution of linkages with the world, one felt most deeply in our immediate proximity.
He added, "Many of you would be familiar with the intensity of India's ties with the Gulf. Our trade is in the region of USD billion annually. The energy dimension is the most visible; but there is much more to it than that. Whether it is projects, technology, education, health, or services, our presence in the Gulf is both pervasive and crucial.
More than 9 million Indians live and work here. Our annual trade with the Mediterranean incidentally is another USD 80 billion. And the Indian diaspora there is close to half a million.
We have significant interests in fertilisers, energy, water, diamonds, defence and cyber. Our projects include airports, ports and railway to phosphates, green hydrogen, steel and submarine cables. Material factors aside, this larger geography is a very critical connect between the Indian Ocean and the Atlantic.
