At the invitation of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 2-3 April 2016.
The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest sustained and nourished through growing economic partnership, multi-faceted cooperation and vibrant people to people contacts. They expressed satisfaction at the regular exchange of high-level visits between the two countries, underlining that the Delhi Declaration (2006) and the Riyadh Declaration (2010) elevated the mutually beneficial bilateral relations to the level of 'Strategic Partnership'.
The two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation to strengthen maritime security in the Gulf and the Indian Ocean regions, vital for the security and prosperity of both countries. They further agreed to promote bilateral collaboration for humanitarian assistance and evacuation in natural disasters and conflict situations.
Acknowledging the strong bilateral security cooperation, the two leaders agreed to enhance cooperation in - counter-terrorism operations, intelligence sharing and capacity-building and to strengthen cooperation in law enforcement, anti-money laundering, drug-trafficking and other transnational crimes.
Affirming that the menace of extremism and terrorism threatens all nations and societies, the two leaders rejected totally any attempt to link this universal phenomenon to any particular race, religion or culture and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in combating terrorism, both at the bilateral level and within the multilateral system of the UN.
The leaders agreed that the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Saudi Arabia helped in further consolidating and deepening the strategic partnership framework and further development of excellent bilateral relations in all spheres, to serve the common interests of the two countries and their peoples. The two sides signed five agreements including plans to cooperate in intelligence sharing and increase investments.
Prime Minister Modi expressed his sincere gratitude to His Majesty the King for the warm welcome and gracious hospitality. He invited His Majesty the King to pay an official visit to India at mutually convenient time, which was gladly accepted.
This book will take you through the highlights of the visit.
The two leaders underlined the close and friendly bilateral ties, deep-rooted in shared history and sustained through growing economic partnership, multi-faceted cooperation and vibrant people to people contacts. Both leaders agreed that the visit of Prime Minister Modi to Saudi Arabia helped in further consolidating the strategic partnership framework and witnessed signing of five agreements including plans to cooperate in intelligence sharing and increase recruitment and investments.
Prime Minister Modi invited King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud to pay an official visit to India, which was gladly accepted.
A new energy to ancient links with the Arab world - interaction with the prominent Saudi business leaders at Saudi Chambers of Commerce
“Tremendous opportunities for expanding India-Saudi Arabia ties in petroleum, renewable energy, infrastructure, defence, agriculture”
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi
“India and Saudi Arabia shall look at working together for building a dynamic global management sector for the cyber world”
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi
At the All Women IT and ITES Centre of Tata Consultancy Services in Riyadh., Prime Minister Modi was given an overview of the operations, and interacted with the all-women workforce, who enthusiastically welcomed and greeted him. He emphasized the role of technology in governance, and said e-governance, for him, means easy governance, effective governance, and economic governance.
The Prime Minister invited them to see the “Narendra Modi App” and even share their views on women empowerment in India.
Acting Globally, Committed Locally
At the TCS Centre 1000 women work in BPO Operations, 85% of whom are Saudi Nationals.
Prime Minister Modi gifted His Majesty King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud a gold-plated replica of the Cheraman Juma Masjid in Kerala.
Situated in Thrissur district, the Cheraman Juma Masjid is believed to be the first mosque built in India by Arab traders around 629 AD, and symbolic of active trade relations between India and Saudi Arabia since ancient times.
According to the tradition, Cheraman Perumal was the Chera King and a contemporary of the Holy Prophet who went to Arabia and embraced Islam after meeting the Holy Prophet at Mecca. Some years later, he sent letters to his relatives and the ruling chieftains of Malabar through his friends Malik bin Dinar and Malik bin Habib who, along with their companions, were then given permission by the local rulers to build the mosque at Kodungallur.
The mosque has an ancient oil lamp that is always kept burning and believed to be over a thousand years old. People from all religions bring oil for the lamp as an offering.
Cheraman Juma Masjid - A symbol of active trade relations between India and Saudi Arabia since ancient times.
“India's youth is India's strength. World needs a workforce that is talented & well versed with technology”
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi
“World's attention is towards India due to the economic progress in India. India can contribute a lot to the world”
– Prime Minister Narendra Modi
