India-Saudi Arabia Bilateral Relations
India and Saudi Arabia enjoy cordial and friendly relations, reflecting centuries-old economic and socio-cultural ties. Diplomatic relations were established in 1947, followed by high-level visits from both sides. Notably, King Saud bin Abdulaziz Al Saud visited India during November-December 1955, and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited the Kingdom in September 1956. The visit of
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Saudi Arabia in April 1982 further strengthened bilateral relations.
A significant milestone in the relationship was the historic visit of King Abdullah to India in January 2006, resulting in the ‘Delhi Declaration,’ which imparted fresh momentum to bilateral ties. This momentum continued with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s reciprocal visit to Saudi Arabia from February 27 to March 01, 2010, during which the ‘Riyadh Declaration’ elevated the bilateral relationship to a ‘Strategic Partnership.’ Subsequently, the visit of Crown Prince (now King) Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud to India in February 2014 further deepened cooperation,
especially in the area of defence.
In April 2016, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Riyadh further captured the spirit of
enhanced cooperation across political, economic, security, and defence realms. King Salman
conferred the Kingdom’s highest civilian honor on Prime Minister Modi, underlining Saudi Arabia’s importance in its relations with India. Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s visit to India in February 2019 advanced this positive momentum, with the announcement of the Kingdom’s approximate $100 billion investment in India and the signing of six MoUs/Agreements spanning investment, tourism, housing, audio-visual programs, and India’s membership in the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
Prime Minister Modi visited Riyadh again on October 28-29, 2019, during which the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) Agreement was signed, establishing a high-level council to steer the Indo-Saudi relationship. The visit witnessed the signing of twelve MoUs/Agreements across various sectors, including energy, security, defense production, civil aviation, medical products, strategic petroleum reserves, small and medium-scale industries, and training of diplomats. PM Modi also delivered the keynote address at the Third Future Investment Initiative Summit.
Strategic Partnership Council
The Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) comprises two sub-committees – I) Committee on Political, Security, Social, and Cultural Cooperation; and II) Committee on Economy and Investments. Both sub-committees have four functional levels of engagements – I) Summit level (Prime Minister & Crown Prince); II) Ministerial-level; III) Senior Officials’ Meetings; and IV) Joint Working Groups (JWGs). Four JWGs have been formed under each sub-committee. The JWGs under the Political committee are I) Political & Consular; II) Legal & Security; III) Social & Cultural; and IV) Joint Committee on Defense Cooperation. The JWGs under the Economic committee are I) Agriculture & Food Security; II) Energy; III) Technology & Information Technology; and IV) Industry & Infrastructure.
Economic Cooperation
Saudi Arabia ranks as India’s fourth-largest trading partner, with over 18% of India’s crude oil imports sourced from the Kingdom. Bilateral trade during FY22 (Apr-Dec) was valued at US$29.28 billion. India’s imports from Saudi Arabia were valued at US$22.65 billion during this period, while exports to Saudi Arabia were worth US$6.63 billion.
Cultural Relations
India participated as the ‘Guest of Honour’ at the 32nd edition of the prestigious Saudi National Festival of Heritage and Culture – Janadriyah from February 07 – 28, 2018. The festival was inaugurated by King Salman, and the then External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also visited the Indian Pavilion.
Yoga has gained popularity in Saudi Arabia, particularly after being recognized as a ‘sports activity’
in November 2017. The International Day of Yoga (IDY) was celebrated by the Embassy in Riyadh,
witnessing participation from a large number of Saudi nationals, including youth, diplomatic corps,
journalists, and the Indian diaspora. An MoU on Yoga Cooperation was signed between the Saudi
Ministry of Sports and India’s Ministry of AYUSH during IDY 2021, marking the first time such
standards were implemented in the Gulf region.
Events commemorating the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and the 550th birth
anniversary of Shri. Guru Nanak Dev Ji were held, further enhancing cultural ties
Indian Community in Saudi Arabia
The Indian community, with approximately 2.2 million individuals, is the largest expatriate community in Saudi Arabia. Highly respected for its discipline and law-abiding nature, the Indian community has made significant contributions to Saudi Arabia’s development. In 2017, around 70,000 Indians were issued travel documents to return to India during an amnesty period. India’s Hajj quota was increased by 24,975 in 2019, enabling 2,00,000 Indians to perform Hajj.
Collaboration during COVID-19
During the COVID-19 crisis, India and Saudi Arabia demonstrated solidarity and coordinated
efforts. The leaders held telephone conversations and planned the G20 Virtual Summit in March 2020. Both nations supported each other, ensuring a continuous flow of essential items. Vaccines,
COVID-relief material, and healthcare services were exchanged, and repatriation efforts were undertaken to assist the Indian community.
In conclusion, India and Saudi Arabia share a strong and multifaceted bilateral relationship, encompassing political, economic, cultural, and people-to-people ties. Their collaboration during critical times, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, exemplifies their commitment to further strengthening this important partnership.
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