Riyadh (NVI): India and Saudi Arabia have signed 12 MoUs and agreements in key sectors like defence, renewal energy, security and civil aviation during the recent visit of India Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the Gulf nation.
The agreements were signed in presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman here on October 29.
The Agreements/MoUs
The agreements signed pertained to setting up ‘Strategic Partnership Council,’ ‘Security Cooperation,’ agreement, MoU on Cooperation in the Field of Renewable Energy, MoU for Cooperation in the field of combating illicit trafficking and smuggling of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances and chemical precursors.
The MoUs that were signed by India and Saudi Arabia were related to cooperation in the field of civil aviation, cooperation between National Stock Exchange (NSE) and Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul), cooperation between National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Saudi Payments, cooperation between Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserves Limited (ISPRL) and Saudi Aramco.
An MoU between Saudi General Authority of Military Industries (GAMI) and Department of Defence Production, Ministry of Defence was also singned to facilitate greater cooperation in military acquisition, industries, research, development and technology.
Another MoU between Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), Ministry of Health & Family Welfare and Saudi Food & Drug Authority (SFDA) will lead to bilateral cooperation in the field of medical products regulations.
Modi meets top brass of the Gulf
During the visit, Modi met King of Saudi Arabia, His Majesty Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, they discussed multiple aspects relating to further boosting cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
He also interacted with Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia. During the meet Several energy related issues were discussed to add even more energy to the India-Saudi Arabia friendship. Modi said that energy remains an important pillar of our ties.
Modi also met King of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein. 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 Narendra Modi met Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Abdulrahman Al-Fadli. Modi said that Environment, Water and Agriculture are the sectors in which there is a lot of potential for cooperation. He added that we are committed to work together to make our environment better and effectively harness water resources.
He also interacted with Ahmad Bin Salman Al Rajhi, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Labour and Social Development. A wide range of issues were discussed during the meeting.
-sb
