By Syed Zia ur Rahman, YaHind.Com
Riyadh, September 08, 2025: Shri Arun Kumar Chatterjee, Secretary (CPV&OIA), Ministry of External Affairs, concluded a productive two-day visit to Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on September 07-08, 2025, for the India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Political Dialogue. Accompanied by Additional Secretary (Gulf) Shri Aseem R Mahajan, Secretary Chatterjee engaged in comprehensive discussions with Dr. Abdulaziz Aluwaisheg, Assistant Secretary General for Political Affairs and Negotiations of the GCC, to bolster the strategic partnership between India and the GCC countries.
The dialogue underscored the deep and historic ties between India and the GCC, characterized by robust trade, investment, and cultural exchanges. With a thriving Indian diaspora of nearly 10 million in the GCC region and a bilateral trade volume of approximately USD 178 billion in FY 2024-25, the partnership continues to flourish across sectors such as energy, health, technology, and education.
A key focus of the discussions was the implementation of the India-GCC Joint Action Plan (JAP) 2024-2028, adopted during the first Joint Ministerial Meeting for Strategic Dialogue in Riyadh on September 08-09, 2024. The talks explored avenues to deepen cooperation in political dialogue, security, trade, agriculture, food security, transportation, energy, health, culture, and education. Both sides committed to enhancing high-level engagements and joint initiatives to further strengthen India-GCC relations. The meeting also facilitated an exchange of perspectives on regional and global issues of mutual interest.
In a separate bilateral meeting, Secretary Chatterjee and Dr. Raja M. Marzoqi, General Coordinator for Negotiations and Head of the GCC Negotiating Team, emphasized the significance of the proposed India-GCC Free Trade Agreement (FTA). They agreed to commence negotiations at the earliest to boost trade and investment ties, exploring new opportunities to deepen economic collaboration.
During his visit, Secretary Chatterjee attended a special reception hosted by the Embassy of India in Riyadh, where he praised the Indian diaspora for their pivotal role in strengthening India-Saudi bilateral relations and contributing to Saudi Arabia’s economic development. He expressed gratitude to the Saudi leadership for their support in ensuring the welfare of the Indian community.
The visit marks another milestone in the growing partnership between India and the GCC, setting the stage for enhanced cooperation and mutual prosperity in the years ahead.
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