Jeddah, April 22 (NationPress) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi commenced a significant two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, India’s Ambassador to the Kingdom, Suhel Ajaz Khan, lauded the Prime Minister’s leadership as the “key catalyst” for the rapid advancement of ties between the two nations, describing the relationship as one of the most robust in the region.

In an interview with IANS prior to the visit, Ambassador Khan noted that this marks PM Modi’s first visit to Jeddah, contrasting it with his previous trips to Riyadh in 2016 and 2019.

“The Honourable Prime Minister is visiting Jeddah for this occasion. On his earlier visits to Saudi Arabia, he went to Riyadh. This is his inaugural trip to Jeddah,” Ambassador Khan commented.

“Jeddah holds notable significance for connectivity between India and Saudi Arabia. Historically, the Jeddah port has served as the preferred trading hub for our nations, extending its influence beyond Saudi Arabia to the wider region. Traders historically utilized the Jeddah port to transport goods overland to various parts of the Middle East, highlighting its substantial historical importance,” he elaborated.

The visit will encompass high-level discussions between PM Modi and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman under the auspices of the Strategic Partnership Council (SPC), a bilateral framework established in 2019 aimed at enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors.

“The SPC represents a unique and solid framework consisting of various subcommittees and working groups. These cover a comprehensive range of topics in our bilateral relations, including the economy, defense, cultural exchange, and space collaboration. All these aspects will be assessed during the discussions,” Khan stated.

Regarding anticipated outcomes, Ambassador Khan confirmed that numerous MoUs are expected to be executed across diverse sectors, reflecting the growing engagement between the two countries.

“When both leaders convene, they will deliberate on all facets of our bilateral relationship. The economic partnership is a fundamental pillar of our ties. Our defense cooperation has notably advanced in recent years, and this will feature in the discussions,” he remarked.

“We aim to enhance collaboration in cultural cooperation, health, space, investments, and trade. Numerous MoUs from various sectors are set to be signed,” he added.

Reflecting on the broader direction of the India-Saudi relationship, Ambassador Khan attributed the notable progress in recent years to the strong political will exhibited by both sides.

“The vision of leadership in both nations serves as the main driving force behind our relationship. Analyzing the past decade, there has been remarkable progress in bilateral ties across political, economic, defense, and cultural domains,” he noted.

“This marks PM Modi’s third visit to Saudi Arabia. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has visited India on two occasions, in 2019 and again in 2023. This high-level engagement underscores the strength of our relationship,” he added.

Ambassador Khan also commended the alignment between India’s ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ vision and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, expressing optimism for future collaborative efforts.

“Our community not only contributes significantly to the Saudi economy but also sends substantial remittances back to India. They maintain strong connections with their homeland and play a vital role in the Viksit Bharat 2047 mission,” he mentioned.

“There are numerous similarities and synergies between Saudi Vision 2030 and our Viksit Bharat vision. We can mutually benefit from each other’s resources and expertise,” he remarked.

A prominent feature of PM Modi’s visit will be his scheduled interaction with Indian workers at a local factory in Jeddah, which the Ambassador characterized as a profoundly meaningful gesture.

“The Honourable Prime Minister will visit one of the factories here to engage with Indian workers. He consistently prioritizes interaction with the Indian community during his visits,” Khan noted.

“This represents a tremendously significant gesture. The workers are extremely eager to receive the Prime Minister, engage with him, and listen to his insights,” he added.

Discussing the influential role of the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia, which he referred to as one of the strongest foundations of bilateral friendship, he stated, “A vital component of our relationship is the Indian community. We have a substantial presence here, with 2.7 million Indian workers and diaspora. In the past two years alone, 300,000 individuals have been added to the Indian diaspora in Saudi Arabia.”

“They are held in high regard and enjoy considerable goodwill here. Their contributions have significantly aided the development of Saudi Arabia over the years and they serve as a living bridge between India and the Kingdom,” he concluded.