PM Modi Visits Labour Camp In Kuwait: A Look At His Past Interactions With Indian Workers Abroad

Last Updated:December 21, 2024, 21:32 IST

PM Modi visited the Gulf Spic labour camp in the Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait during his two-day visit, 90% of which is inhabited by Indian workers.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday visited a labour camp in Kuwait, a visit described by the External Affairs Ministry as symbolic of the importance he attached to the welfare of Indian workers abroad during his historic two-day visit to the Gulf nation.

As the first programme of his visit to Kuwait, Modi visited the Gulf Spic labour camp in the Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait with a workforce of around 1,500 Indian nationals. He interacted with a cross-section of Indian workers from different states of India, enquired about their well-being, also sat at a table with some of them at the Gulf Spic Labour Camp when snacks served.

On Modi’s planned visit to the labour camp, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier said that the idea was to express “the amount of importance the government of India attaches to our workers. That is the prime purpose.” Modi’s visit comes months after over 45 Indians were killed in a devastating fire in a building housing foreign workers in southern Kuwait’s Mangaf locality in June.

“The visit to the labour camp is symbolic of the importance attached by the Prime Minister to the welfare of Indian workers abroad. In the last few years, the government has undertaken several technology-based initiatives such as e-Migrate portal, MADAD portal and upgraded Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana for the welfare of Indian workers abroad,” an MEA statement said.

“Modi interacted with Indian workers & enquired about their well-being. PM’s first engagement of the day signifies the importance India attaches to the welfare of Indian workers abroad,” the MEA posted on X along with the photos from the event.

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PM Modi’s Previous Interactions With Indian Workers

Notably, there have been several instances where Prime Minister Modi has interacted with Indian workers abroad. In 2016, PM Modi visited L&T workers’ residential complex in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. In the same year, he also visited the workers’ camp in Doha, Qatar.

Prior to that, PM Modi visited a labour camp in Abu Dhabi in 2015 where he highlighted India’s concern for the welfare of its migrant workers. He interacted with Indian workers at their camps to know the problems they faced and discussed ways the Indian government could help them.

PM Modi has also been continuously working towards ensuring safe and legal migration. A key effort in this regard has been the e-Migrate project which was launched in 2014 to facilitate emigration of Indians for employment purposes and mitigate the scope of malpractices. It helps to conduct recruitment process in a hassle-free and transparent manner.

The Modi government has also strengthened the Overseas Employment & Protector General of Emigrants Division, which helps streamline the process of emigration for individuals having ECR (Emigration Clearance Required category) passports going abroad for employment. At least 16 offices of Protector General of Emigrants have been opened across India to facilitate the same.

PM Modi’s Historic Visit To Kuwait

Modi arrived in Kuwait for a historic two-day visit in Kuwait to a resounding welcome from the Indian diaspora, as his visit marked the first trip to the Gulf nation by an Indian prime minister in the last 43 years. The trip comes at the invitation of Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, the Amir of the State of Kuwait.

Ahead of his departure to the Gulf nation, PM Modi said, “I look forward to my meetings with His Highness the Amir, the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of Kuwait. It would be an opportunity to chalk out a roadmap for a futuristic partnership for the benefit of our people and the region.”

As PM Modi arrived at a hotel in Kuwait, where he would stay for the next two days, members of the Indian diaspora eagerly gathered to interact with him. The Prime Minister interacted with members of the Indian diaspora and enjoyed a cultural performance by Indian artists at the hotel, showcasing folk acts from Kerala and other states of India.

He also addressed an Indian community event titled ‘Hala Modi’ in Kuwait. During his address, PM Modi said he was happy to see the diversity of people from India in the Middle East nation and called it a “mini-India”.

The Indian community is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait. Indians constitute 21 per cent (1 million) of the total population of Kuwait and 30 per cent of its work-force (approx 9 lakh). Indian workers top the private sector as well as the domestic sector (DSW) work force list, according to Indian Embassy in Kuwait.

The Gulf nation is among India’s top trading partners, with bilateral trade valued at USD 10.47 billion in the financial year 2023-24. Kuwait is India’s sixth largest crude supplier, meeting three per cent of the country’s energy needs. Indian exports to Kuwait reached $2 billion for the first time, while investments by the Kuwait Investment Authority in India exceed $10 billion.

Location :

Kuwait City, Kuwait