Emir of Kuwait to visit India from June 14 to 19

New Delhi, June 11: Looking forward to making India serategic partner in peace and Development Emir of Kuwait Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmed Al Sabah arrives here on June 14 to forge cooperation in energy sector and identify areas for investment in various areas besides assuring his support to New Delhi claim for permanent membership of the Security Council.

During his five-day state visit, the Emir will hold talks with President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and other leaders on wideranging issues including development in Iraq, Iranian nuclear issue and on ongoing Indo-Pak peace that have the full support of Kuwait.

The two countries and set to sign several agreement in econmic and technological fields with on defective to expand trade and commercial activities in the energy touring and other areas.

Minister of State for External Affair Mr E Ahamed was sent specially to invite the Emir even though elections to Kuwait parliament are due on June 29, the Emir had been keen to visit here at earliest to reiterat his country strong and historical ties with India.

Sheikh Sabah, who be came the ruler of Kuwait early this years, is a pioneer in developing stronglies between the two countries he is accompanied by a high level business delegation which will interact with leading Indian industrial to set up joint ventures in communication and information technology fields.

Kuwait has been major supplier of India's energy need and it has supplied 11 million tones of crude to 2005 words 2.5 billion dollars. While India imports oil and petroleum products from Kuwait its major export is rice, meat products, jewellery and engineering goods.

India and Kuwait have no bilateral problem and have common views on many international issues.

Kuwait has also extended massive financial assistance to India through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development to India for number of projects. The assistance is to fune of Rs 600 crores Kalinadi hydro clectric project Anpara power plant, Kerala Fisheries development and others.

Director of Kuwait information centre Mohammaed A R Badah said that officials of two countries are giving final products to the agenda.

UNI