KUWAIT CITY, June 25: Kuwait's Ambassador to India, Meshal Al-Shamali, announced on Tuesday that efforts will be intensified to deepen the existing relations between Kuwait and India, extending into new and diverse fields. This statement was made following his meeting with the Indian Minister of External Affairs, S. Jaishankar, in New Delhi.

Ambassador Al-Shamali congratulated Minister Jaishankar on his reassignment as Minister of External Affairs after India's recent parliamentary elections and the formation of the new government. He highlighted that their discussions covered various bilateral issues of mutual interest and explored ways to enhance cooperation across economic, political, cultural, and social fields, with a particular focus on facilitating mutual visits by officials from both countries.

"The coming days will witness mutual visits by officials of the two countries at all levels, which will include political consultations and joint meetings covering various sectors operating in both countries," stated Al-Shamali.

Regarding trade relations, Al-Shamali emphasized the importance of strengthening trade ties, which have seen significant growth recently. The total bilateral trade between Kuwait and India reached approximately $10.5 billion during the last fiscal year, marking an annual growth of about 35 percent. He noted that Kuwait is the ninth largest oil supplier to India, providing three percent of the country's total energy needs.

Additionally, Ambassador Al-Shamali mentioned that Minister Jaishankar expressed gratitude to the Kuwaiti leadership and government for their concern and support following the tragic fire accident in the Mangaf region, which resulted in the deaths of nearly 49 Indian residents.