Bharat Mata ki—Jai!
Bharat Mata ki—Jai!
Bharat Mata ki—Jai!
Namaskar!
I arrived in Kuwait just two or two and a half hours ago. And ever since I set foot here, I have felt a unique sense of belonging and warmth all around. You all have come from different states of Bharat, but looking at all of you, it feels as if a mini Hindustan has come alive before me. Here, I see people from North, South, East, and West, speaking different languages and dialects. Yet, there is one common echo in everyone's hearts, one resounding chant in everyone's hearts – Bharat Mata ki Jai, Bharat Mata ki—Jai.
Here, there is a festive atmosphere of culture. Right now, you are preparing for Christmas and New Year. Soon, Pongal will arrive. Whether it’s Makar Sankranti, Lohri, Bihu, or many such festivals, they are not far away. I extend my heartfelt wishes to all of you for Christmas, New Year, and all the festivals celebrated in every corner of the country.
Friends,
Today, this moment is very special for me personally. After 43 years—more than four decades—a Prime Minister of Bharat has come to Kuwait. It takes just four hours for you to travel from Bharat to Kuwait, but it took a Prime Minister four decades to make this journey. Many of you have been living in Kuwait for generations. Some of you were even born here. And every year, hundreds of Indians join your community. You have added a touch of Indian flavour to Kuwaiti society, painted the canvas of Kuwait with the colours of Indian skills, and blended Bharat’s talent, technology, and tradition into the fabric of Kuwait. That is why I am here today—not just to meet you, but to celebrate your achievements.
Friends,
A little while ago, I met Indian workers and professionals working here. These friends are involved in construction work and are contributing their hard work in many other sectors as well. Members of the Indian community, as doctors, nurses, and paramedics, are a significant strength of Kuwait’s medical infrastructure. Those among you who are teachers are contributing to strengthening Kuwait’s next generation. Those of you who are engineers and architects are building the next generation of infrastructure in Kuwait.
And friends,
Whenever I speak with the leadership of Kuwait, they always praise you all immensely. The citizens of Kuwait also hold great respect for you because of your hard work, honesty, and skills. Today, Bharat is the world leader in remittances, and a significant share of the credit for this achievement goes to all of you hardworking friends. Your contribution is deeply respected by your fellow countrymen back home.
Friends,
The relationship between Bharat and Kuwait is one of civilizations, of the sea, of affection, and of trade. Bharat and Kuwait are situated on opposite shores of the Arabian Sea. It is not just diplomacy that binds us, but also the connection of hearts. Our present ties are as strong as our shared history. There was a time when pearls, dates, and magnificent breeds of horses from Kuwait were sent to Bharat, while many goods from Bharat made their way here. Indian rice, tea, spices, fabrics, and wood were regularly brought to Kuwait. The teakwood from Bharat was used to build ships on which Kuwaiti sailors undertook long voyages. The pearls of Kuwait have been as precious as diamonds to Bharat. Today, Indian jewellery is renowned worldwide, and Kuwaiti pearls have contributed to that legacy. In Gujarat, we often hear stories from our elders about how, in past centuries, there was constant travel and trade between Kuwait and Bharat. Particularly in the 19th century, Kuwaiti traders started coming to Surat. At that time, Surat was an international market for Kuwaiti pearls. Ports like Surat, Porbandar, and Veraval in Gujarat stand as witnesses to these historic connections.
Kuwaiti traders have even published numerous books in the Gujarati language. After Gujarat, Kuwaiti traders established a distinct presence in Mumbai and other markets as well. One notable example is the renowned Kuwaiti merchant Abdul Latif Al Abdul Razzak, whose book ‘How to Calculate Pearl Weight’ was published in Mumbai. Many Kuwaiti traders opened offices in Mumbai, Kolkata, Porbandar, Veraval, and Goa for their export and import businesses. Even today, many Kuwaiti families reside in Mumbai's Mohammad Ali Street. It might surprise many to learn that 60-65 years ago, the Indian rupee was used in Kuwait just as it was in Bharat. Back then, if someone purchased something from a shop in Kuwait, Indian rupees were accepted as currency. Terms like "Rupiya," "Paisa," and "Aana," which were part of Indian currency vocabulary, were very familiar to the people of Kuwait.
Friends,
Bharat was one of the first countries in the world to recognize Kuwait after its independence. That is why visiting a country and society with which we share so many memories and such deep connections in both our past and present is truly memorable for me. I am deeply grateful to the people of Kuwait and its government. I would like to especially thank His Highness The Amir for his kind invitation.
Friends,
The bond forged through culture and commerce in the past is now reaching new heights in this new century. Today, Kuwait is a very significant energy and trade partner for Bharat, and Bharat is also a major investment destination for Kuwaiti companies. I vividly recall a saying mentioned by His Highness, The Crown Prince of Kuwait, during our meeting in New York. He said, “When you are in need, India is your destination.” The citizens of Bharat and Kuwait have always stood by each other during difficult times and crises. During the Corona pandemic, both countries supported each other at every level. When Bharat needed help the most, Kuwait supplied liquid oxygen to us. His Highness, The Crown Prince, personally stepped forward to inspire everyone to work swiftly. I am satisfied that Bharat, too, extended its support by sending vaccines and medical teams to help Kuwait fight the crisis. Bharat kept its ports open to ensure there were no shortages of essential food supplies for Kuwait and its surrounding regions. In June of this year, a heart-breaking incident occurred here in Kuwait—the fire tragedy in Mangaf—which claimed the lives of many Indians. When I heard this news, I was deeply concerned. However, the way the Kuwaiti government extended its support during that time was like that of a true brother. I salute Kuwait's spirit and compassion.
Friends,
This tradition of standing by each other in both happiness and sorrow forms the foundation of our mutual relationship and trust. In the coming decades, we will become even greater partners in prosperity. Our goals are not very different. The people of Kuwait are working towards building New Kuwait, and the people of Bharat are also dedicated to making the country a developed nation by 2047. Kuwait aims to become a dynamic economy through trade and innovation, and Bharat, too, is focusing on innovation and continuously strengthening its economy. These two goals complement each other. The innovation, skills, technology, and manpower required for the creation of New Kuwait are all available in Bharat. Bharat’s start-ups, ranging from fintech to healthcare, smart cities to green technologies, can provide cutting-edge solutions for every need of Kuwait. Bharat’s skilled youth can also add new strength to Kuwait’s future journey.
Friends,
Bharat has the potential to become the world's skill capital. Bharat will remain the youngest country in the world for many decades to come. In this context, Bharat has the capacity to meet the global demand for skills. To achieve this, Bharat is focusing on skill development and skill upgrading for its youth, in line with global needs. In recent years, Bharat has signed migration and employment agreements with nearly two dozen countries, including Gulf nations, Japan, Australia, France, Germany, Mauritius, the UK, and Italy. Countries around the world are also opening their doors to Bharat’s skilled manpower.
Friends,
Many agreements are being made with different countries to ensure the welfare and facilities of Indians working abroad. You may be familiar with the e-Migrate portal. Foreign companies and registered agents have been brought onto a single platform through this portal. This makes it easy to identify where there is a demand for manpower, what type of manpower is needed, and which company requires it. Thanks to this portal, millions of workers have come to Gulf countries in the past 4-5 years. Every such initiative has a single goal—to ensure that the talent from Bharat contributes to the world’s progress and that those who go abroad for work always have the necessary support. You all in Kuwait will also benefit greatly from Bharat’s efforts in this regard.
Friends,
Wherever we live in the world, we respect the country we are in, and we feel immense joy in seeing Bharat reach new heights. You all came from Bharat, lived here, yet you have preserved your Indian identity in your hearts. Now, tell me, which Indian wouldn’t feel proud of the success of Mangalyaan? Which Indian wouldn’t have been overjoyed by the landing of Chandrayaan on the moon? Am I not right? Today, Bharat is advancing with a new spirit. Bharat is now the world’s fifth-largest economy. It is home to the world’s number one fintech ecosystem. Bharat also boasts the world’s third-largest start-up ecosystem and is the second-largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world.
Let me share a statistic with you, and I’m sure you will be pleased to hear it. In the past 10 years, the length of optical fiber laid across Bharat is eight times greater than the distance between the Earth and the Moon. Today, Bharat is one of the most digitally connected countries in the world. Every Indian is using digital tools from small towns to villages. Smart digital systems in Bharat are no longer a luxury; they are now a part of the everyday life of the common man. Whether it’s enjoying a cup of tea, buying fruits on the street, or making digital payments, Bharat has embraced digital convenience. Ordering groceries, food, fruits, vegetables, or everyday household items is now done in a matter of moments, and payments are made via mobile phones. People have DigiLocker for storing documents, DigiYatra for seamless travel at airports, and FASTag to save time at toll booths. Bharat is becoming increasingly digitally smart, and this is just the beginning. The future of Bharat lies in innovations that will set the direction for the entire world. The future Bharat will be the hub of global development, the growth engine of the world. The time is not far when Bharat will become the hub of Green Energy, Pharma, Electronics, Automobiles, Semiconductors, Legal, Insurance, Contracting, and Commercial sectors. You will see the major economic centres of the world establishing themselves in Bharat. Bharat will emerge as a massive hub for Global Capability Centres, Global Technology Centres and Global Engineering Centres.
Friends,
We consider the entire world to be one family. Bharat is moving forward as a ‘Vishwa Bandhu’ (global friend), thinking of the world’s welfare. The world, too, is acknowledging this spirit of Bharat. Today, on December 21, 2024, the world is celebrating its first World Meditation Day, dedicated to Bharat’s thousands of years of meditation tradition. Since 2015, the world has been celebrating International Yoga Day on June 21, also dedicated to Bharat’s yoga tradition. In 2023, the world celebrated the International Year of Millets, which was made possible through Bharat's efforts and proposal. Today, Bharat's yoga is uniting every region of the world. Bharat’s traditional medicine, our Ayurveda, and our Ayush products are enriching global wellness. Our superfoods, millets, and Shri Anna are becoming a major foundation for nutrition and a healthy lifestyle. From Nalanda to the IITs, Bharat’s knowledge system is strengthening the global knowledge ecosystem. Today, Bharat is also becoming a key link in global connectivity. During the G-20 summit held in Bharat last year, the announcement of the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor was made. This corridor is set to provide a new direction for the future of the world.
Friends,
The journey of a ‘Viksit Bharat’ (Developed India) is incomplete without your support and the participation of the Indian diaspora. I invite you all to join the resolve for a ‘Viksit Bharat’. The first month of the new year, January 2025, will be a month of many national celebrations. From January 8 to 10 this year, the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas will be held in Bhubaneswar, with people from all over the world coming together. I invite you all to be a part of this event. On this journey, you can take blessings from Lord Jagannath in Puri. After that, do visit Prayagraj to take part in the Maha Kumbh Mela, which will be held from January 13 to February 26, lasting for about a month and a half. Make sure to return after watching the Republic Day celebrations on January 26. And yes, bring your Kuwaiti friends to Bharat, show them around, and let them experience Bharat. There was a time when Dilip Kumar Saheb inaugurated the first Indian restaurant here. The real taste of Bharat can only be experienced there. So, make sure to prepare your Kuwaiti friends for this experience.
Friends,
I know that all of you are very excited about the Arabian Gulf Cup that is starting today. You are eager to cheer for the Kuwait team. I am grateful to His Highness, The Amir, for inviting me as the Guest of Honour for the opening ceremony. This reflects the immense respect that the royal family, the government of Kuwait, have for all of you and Bharat. I hope that you continue to strengthen the Bharat-Kuwait relationship in this way. With this wish, once again, a heartfelt thank you to all of you!
Bharat Mata ki—Jai!
Bharat Mata ki—Jai!
Bharat Mata ki—Jai!
Thank you very much.
