Canadian Ambassador poses for a group photo with the Indian Ambassador

Sheikha Intisar Salem Al-Ali Al-Sabah poses for a group photo with the Indian Ambassador

EU Ambassador poses for a group photo with the Indian Ambas

Editor-in-Chief Ahmed Al-Jarallah poses for a group photo with the Indian Ambassador

Minister Dr. Mahmoud Bushehri and Indian Ambassador during a symbolic cake cutting during the ceremony

British Ambassador poses for a group photo with the Indian Ambassador.

KUWAIT CITY, Jan 30: India’s Republic Day reception, held at the Regency Hotel in Salmiya on Jan 29, was a grand celebration of India’s sovereignty and national pride. The event gathered diplomats, dignitaries, and members of the Indian community in Kuwait to mark the 76th anniversary of the Indian Republic. The attendees were treated to an evening of cultural performances befitting the occasion, India’s commitment to democracy, diversity and development. The occasion also reflected the enduring bond between India and Kuwait, acknowledging the close ties shared by the two nations across various sectors, including trade, culture and diplomacy.

The event not only commemorated India’s Republic Day but also served as a reminder of the deep connections and friendship between the people of India and Kuwait, further cementing the growing cooperation between the two countries. The guest of the evening was HE Dr Mahmoud Abdulaziz Bushehri, Minister of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy of the State of Kuwait who also highlighted the close ties shared by Kuwait and India. In his remarks, the Ambassador of India to Kuwait HE Dr Adarsh Swaika thanked Dr. Bushahri for gracing the occasion with his presence. “I also express my heartfelt gratitude to His Highness the Amir of the State of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, His Highness the Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah, and His Highness the Prime Minister, Sheikh Ahmad Abdullah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, for their unwavering support and patronage of the strong India-Kuwait partnership. “As we commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s Republic Day when our Constitution was adopted, India has largely fulfilled the promises outlined in the Constitution, securing justice, liberty, equality, and equity for all its citizens. “This journey of progress and prosperity has also fostered unity and integrity within our diverse democratic framework. “In line with the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make India a developed nation by 2047, we continue our path forward with determination, building on our past achievements.

Today, India’s developmental journey remains a subject of global attention, and I would like to highlight some key aspects of modern India,” said the Indian envoy. Speaking of India, Dr Swaika said India is the largest democracy on earth with a stable political regime; the world’s most populous country with 65 percent of the population under 35 years of age makes it the world’s largest working population; 5th largest global economy and poised to become 3rd largest soon; first in lowest manufacturing costs globally; preferred global foreign investment destination with FDI of $710 bn in the last 10 years; world’s 3rd largest Startup Ecosystem (with 115 unicorns; 1 unicorn in India out of 10 globally); Global Pharmacy of the world; 4th largest renewable energy installed capacity of over 200 GW; 50% of all global digital payments take place in India on a real-time basis; the extraordinary pace of infrastructure development – from 70 airports in 2014 to 150 airports in 2024, 28 kms of highways and 12 kms of railway tracks are being constructed every day; 6th largest globally in patent filing (103000 patents last year) and so on.

Dr Swaika went on to say, “The Indian foreign policy is deeply rooted in our ancient philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, meaning ‘the world is one family’. “We consistently advocate for peaceful conflict resolution through dialogue and diplomacy and proudly represent the global south as a reliable development partner. India’s foreign policy is guided by two principles: national interest and global good. “Our active participation in multilateral forums such as the Quad, BRICS, SCO, and BIMSTEC reflects this approach. India has also led numerous pro-planet initiatives like the International Solar Alliance, the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, and the Global Biofuels Alliance, fostering global cooperation and understanding. “Our bilateral relations with Kuwait are historically strong, with mutual understanding at both bilateral and multilateral levels.

“The recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kuwait in December 2024 marked a new chapter in our partnership, leading to the elevation of our ties to a ‘Strategic Partnership’. “This visit also saw the signing of a Defence Cooperation MoU and the conferring of Kuwait’s highest national award, ‘The Order of Mubarak Al-Kabeer’, on Prime Minister Modi. Trade and investment between India and Kuwait continue to grow, with India being one of Kuwait’s top trading partners and Indian companies contributing significantly to infrastructure projects. “The Indian community in Kuwait, now over a million strong, serves as a bridge between our two nations. We look forward to further strengthening our ties, both at the government and people-to-people levels, especially under Kuwait’s GCC Presidency.” He concluded his remarks by saying ‘Long live India-Kuwait friendship!’