Dozen Pacts, a New Strategic Council: PM Modi Wraps Up Saudi Visit
The focus will be on PM Modi’s keynote address at the third session of this ‘Davos in the Desert’, in Riyadh.
India and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, 29 October inked over a dozen agreements during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the Kingdom, in several key sectors including oil and gas, defence and civil aviation to bolster their ties. A Strategic Partnership Council was also established to coordinate on important issues on PM Modi’s two-day visit to Saudi Arabia.
During his visit, PM Modi also addressed the Future Investment Initiative Forum, or ‘Davos in Desert’, where he said that India has the third largest start-up ecosystem in world. He also called Saudi Arabia “a power house for world economy” and the FII an “integral part of world business calendar”.
- PM Modi wrapped up his two-day visit to Saudi Arabia on the convening night of 29-30 October
- A Strategic Partnership Council was established between India and Saudi Arabia during the visit
- PM Modi also addressed the ‘Davos in the Desert’ or Future Investment Initiative (FII) Forum, being hosted in Riyadh since 2017
- PM Modi had also met King of Jordan earlier and discussed ways to boost their cultural ties
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Saudi Hosts 'Davos in Desert' as Outrage Fades Over Critic's Murder
Dozens of global policymakers and tycoons will attend a Saudi investment summit starting on Tuesday, helping the kingdom turn the page on a critic's murder that triggered a mass boycott last year.
A strong turnout at the three-day Future Investment Initiative (FII), nicknamed “Davos in the desert,” would further rehabilitate de facto ruler Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's image, a year on from the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, reported AFP.
PM Modi's Schedule for Saudi Arabia Visit
Here is the schedule for PM Modi’s visit to Riyadh on Tuesday (all times are local):
- 10:30 am - Call on by HRH Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy
- 10:50 am - Call on by HH Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Foreign Affairs
- 11:10 am - Call on by HE Ahmad bin Sulaiman Alrajhi, Minister of Labour and Social Development
- 11:30 am - Call on by HE Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al Fadley, Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture
- 2 pm - Lunch hosted by HM King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
- 2:50 pm - Meeting with HM King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
- 3:20 pm - Signing of Strategic Partnership Council Agreement and Exchange of Agreements
- 5:30 pm - Keynote address at FII followed by interaction with moderator
- 7 pm - Meeting with HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
- 8 pm - Dinner hosted by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
- 10:15 pm - Emplane for Delhi
PM Modi Leaves for Riyadh
PM Narendra Modi has boarded his plane bound for Riyadh where he will hold bilateral talks Saudi Arabian leadership.
Visit Will Add Strength to Bilateral Relations, Says PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that his visit to Saudi Arabia will add strength to bilateral relations between the two nations. “Saudi Arabia and India are working together in a wide range of sectors notably energy, security, trade and culture,” he wrote on Monday.
PM Modi Arrives in Saudi Arabia for Two-Day Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed at the King Khalid International Airport in Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, late on Monday, 28 October for his two-day visit to the Kingdom.
PM Modi to Hold Bilateral Meeting With King of Saudi Arabia Today
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be holding a bilateral meeting with the King of Saudi Arabia, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, in Riyadh, on Tuesday, 29 October.
Moving Towards a Closer Strategic Partnership With Saudi: PM Modi
PM Modi has given an interview to Arab News, in which he has said that India is now looking at a closer strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia, which he said is the second largest source of crude oil for India. He also noted that within G20, India and Saudi Arabia have been working together to reduce inequality and promote sustainable development.
“We are now moving towards a closer strategic partnership that will include Saudi investments in downstream oil and gas projects,” he said in the interview, according to ANI.
“We value the Kingdom’s vital role as an important and reliable source of our energy requirements,” PM Modi said. He also added that India was looking forward to the participation of Saudi Aramco in India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves.
PM Modi's Schedule for Tuesday
PM Modi's tentative schedule in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, 29 October:
- 1 pm IST: Call on by Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Minister of Energy
- 4:30 pm IST: Lunch hosted by King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
- 5:20 pm IST: Meeting with King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
- 9:30 pm IST: Meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
- 10:30 pm IST: Dinner hosted by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
'PM Modi's Visit Will Strengthen Bilateral Ties': Indian Envoy to Saudi Arabia
Indian ambassador to Saudi Arabia Dr Ausaf Sayeed on Tuesday, 29 October, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit will strengthen the ties between the nations, according to ANI.
Sayer said the visit is expected to expand bilateral ties in various areas such as security and strategic cooperation, defense, energy security, investments, trade and more.
PM Narendra Modi Meets King of Jordan Abdullah bin Al-Hussein
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, 29 October, met the King of Jordan Abdullah bin Al-Hussein. “The two leaders discussed ways to deepen business and cultural linkages,” PMO tweeted.
According to a press release, the two leaders exchanged views on strengthening bilateral relations, including MoUs and Agreements signed during His Majesty's visit to India from 27 February -01 March 2018.
They discussed the Middle East Peace Process and other regional developments. Both leaders also discussed cooperation in counter-terrorism.
PM Modi Meets Saudi Arabia's Minister of Environment
Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Saudi Arabia's Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture, Abdulrahman bin Abdulmohsen Al-Fadley, in Riyadh.
Key Financial Summit 'Davos in the Desert' Begins in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia has inaugurated the three-day high-profile financial summit, set to be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several other world leaders. It is aimed at drawing foreign investors to help the Gulf Kingdom diversify its oil-based economy.
The forum, dubbed 'Davos in the desert', is an initiative of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who plans to diversify the kingdom's economy while reducing its economic dependence on petroleum products under his ambitious vision 2030 plan, reported PTI.
The three-day Future Investment Initiative, as the forum is officially known, will host financiers, governments, and industry leaders who would discuss global trade and explore the trends, opportunities and challenges shaping the global investment landscape over the coming decades.
PM Modi Meets King Abdulaziz Salman
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met King of Saudi Arabia Abdulaziz bin Salman, who is also the Minister of Energy had a productive meeting with PM
“Both dignitaries talked about efforts to improve energy cooperation between the two nations,” PM Modi tweeted.
Looking Forward to Aramco's Participation in India Strategic Petroleum Reserves: PM Modi
Asserting that India and Saudi Arabia are moving towards a "closer strategic partnership" from a purely "buyer-seller” relationship PM Narendra Modi, in an interview to Arab News, said the country is looking forward to Saudi Aramco’s participation in India’s Strategic Petroleum Reserves, ANI reported.
Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves is a public sector company responsible for maintaining the country's strategic petroleum reserves.
Saudi King Salman Congratulated PM on Election Victory: MEA
Saudi King Salman congratulated PM Narendra Modi on his election victory during their bilateral meeting, MEA Secretary TS Tirumurthi told the media.
He added that an agreement for Strategic Partnership Council will be signed and that political, defence, security and people to people contact issues were discussed.
PM Modi Calls For Global Investment in Keynote Address
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, addressed the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Forum or ‘Davos in the Desert’ in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, 29 October.
Inviting investments from all over the world, PM Modi said India has the third largest start-up ecosystem in the world. “I request investors from all over the world, in particular venture funds, to come and make the most of our startup ecosystem,” he said.
PM Modi also said India aims to invest USD 100 Billion in refining, pipelines, gas terminals by 2024.
Thanking Saudi Arabia for its investments in India, he called the nation “a power house for the world economy” and the FII an “integral part of world business calendar”.
PM Modi Calls for UN Reform at FII
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday pressed for the reform of the United Nations while expressing regret over some countries using the global body as a "tool" rather than an "institution" to resolve conflicts, reported PTI.
During an on-stage discussion with Founder, Co-Chairman and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Bridgewater Associates Ray Dalio, he said that the UN as an institution for conflict resolution has not developed as desired and nations should look for reform.
"We have to think whether the UN has risen to the occasion when it comes to conflict resolution. I had raised this issue when the UN turned 70 but much discussion could not happen. I hope this topic is discussed more actively when the UN turns 75," PM Modi said.
PM Modi Meets Crown Prince Mohd Bin Salman, Signs Agreements
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohd bin Salman in Riyadh.
PM Modi and the Saudi Crown Prince signed various agreements during their meeting. According to reports, the two sides agreed on rejecting of all forms of interference in the "internal affairs".
Both also rejected all terrorist acts, and stress the need to prevent access to weapons missiles and drones to commit terrorist acts against other countries, according to a reported joint statement.
India, Saudi Ink Several Pacts; Set Up Strategic Partnership Council
India and Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, 29 October inked a dozen agreements in several key sectors including oil and gas, defence and civil aviation to bolster their ties as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held extensive talks with the Kingdom's top leadership during which a Strategic Partnership Council was established to coordinate on important issues.
The two sides condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and agreed to step up bilateral security cooperation.
Saudi Arabia, known to be a key ally of Pakistan, has been siding with India in its campaign to rid the region of terrorism and pledged to extend all cooperation to effectively deal with the challenge.
"The two sides stressed that the extremism and terrorism threaten all nations and societies. They rejected any attempt to link this universal phenomenon to any particular race, religion or culture," said a joint statement issued at the end of Modi's visit.
Following are the 12 agreements signed between the two sides during PM Modi’s visit:
PM Modi Embarks for Delhi
Wrapping up his eventful two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi left for New Delhi from Riyadh in the wee hours of Wednesday, 30 October.