Riyadh, Delhi eternal partners in progress

The Arabian Peninsula’s relations with the Indian Subcontinent are possibly as old as human civilization. Irrespective of the political nomenclature or the demographic and geographical boundaries, people from the Arab world have been traveling to India as merchants, travelers, intellectuals and religious scholars.
The visit of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah to India, after a gap of five decades in 2006, marked a virtual rediscovery in the intrinsic warmth of relations that have existed between the people of these two regions.
In fact, Indo-Saudi partnership has improved significantly in recent times and is expected to gain its momentum in the years to come. It is the common interests and the mutual desire that have been the main driving force behind this partnership.
The economic complementarities are helping this relationship grow stronger. Saudi Arabia is now an important part of India’s foreign policy and vice-versa. With a changed global geopolitical environment and increasing economic interdependence, Saudi Arabia today considers India not only a strategic economic ally, but also a potential ‘bridging power’ that can play a constructive role for regional peace and stability.
This relationship has the potential to not only serve the interests of both sides but on a large scale it can bring peace, security and prosperity in the region. India, today, stands at a threshold in leveraging its economic and military growth in consonant with its national security goals.
This situation has not only earned a national identity but also an international status where both economy and military strength are major determinants. India, during this period of unilateralism and emerging multilateralism, has taken a number of steps that attracted the international attention, which can be corroborated by the high level visit of P-5 countries.
India is being seen as the source of stability and security in the world in general and Asia in particular. The visit of King Abdullah, who was the chief guest on the occasion of the Republic Day of India in 2006, must be seen in that context. The visit was a true manifestation to the fast growing relations between the two countries. India’s engagement with the Arabian peninsula dates back to several millennia when traders and sailors from South Asia used to sail across the Arabian Sea, in boats made of Malabar wood.
The relationship got reinforced and strengthened over a period of time with robust exchanges and there emerged a strong symbiotic relationship which has stood the test of time and is growing stronger. The remarkable cultural similarities between the peoples of the two lands show the integration and assimilation of various aspects of their respective traditions into each other’s daily lives.
The centuries old two-way trade was mutually beneficial for the people of India and Arabian Peninsula, enhancing their knowledge and understanding, besides fulfilling their day-to-day requirements. India used to import pearls and dates from the Arabian peninsula, while satiating the Arab necessities like foodstuff, timber, textiles and also supplied other luxury items like silk and jewelry.
The shared sense of mutual respect and admiration for the role played by the leadership of the two countries in the shaping of the region since the beginning of 20th century brought the two countries at the same plain. People of India admired the unification efforts of late King Abdulaziz Al-Saud and formation of the Kingdom of the Saudi Arabia. The Indian government has supported the endeavors undertaken by the leadership of Saudi Arabia to improve the Haj management, which has made the pilgrimage a safe and comfortable experience.
The leadership of the two countries has displayed a strong commitment to further the historical bonds of friendship. The visit of late King Saud bin Abdulaziz to India in 1955 marked the beginning of high-level bilateral engagement, which was followed a year later by the visit of the then Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to the Kingdom. Later Crown Prince Faisal bin Abdulaziz visited India in 1959 and Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi visited the Kingdom in 1982.
The bilateral relationship received a major fillip in the beginning of 21st century with King Abdullah’s historic visit to India. The visit resulted in “Delhi Declaration,” signed by the two leaders at the conclusion of the visit, which committed the two countries to pursuing a joint strategic vision to promote bilateral relations for mutual benefit as well as for the peace and security.
The visit of Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh to Saudi Arabia in 2010 and the signing of the ‘Riyadh Declaration’ during the visit gave a further boost to the momentum of bilateral relations. It elevated the engagement between the two countries to the level of “strategic partnership” and articulated their commitment to promote bilateral ties in political, economic, security, defense and cultural areas.
Based on the framework provided by the Delhi Declaration and Riyadh Declaration, bilateral relations between the two countries have been strengthened with increase in ministerial visits and stronger economic ties based on substantial trade relations and investments. The tone set by the two landmark visits opened new vistas in bilateral cooperation. Saudi Arabia emerged as India’s 4th largest trade partner during the financial year 2010-11. There are over 565 small and medium Indian enterprises operating in the Kingdom and the total Indian investments in Saudi Arabia have now crossed $2.5 billion, with the presence of major Indian companies in sectors such as IT, construction, contracting services, financial services and engineering goods etc.
The recent years have witnessed an enhanced level of cooperation in the field of information technology, biotechnology, nanotechnology and space. India possesses one of the largest and qualified pools of scientific and technical manpower in the world, which is globally acclaimed for technological competence. Many Indian expatriates, who are specialists in field of IT, are contributing to the growth and development of Saudi IT and knowledge-based industries. On international front, the two countries have shared vision for the global peace and development.
India supports the Kingdom’s efforts in combating global terrorism and both the countries strive to join efforts to put an end to the scourge of extremism and violence, which constitute threat to all nations.
King Abdullah’s initiative to promote interfaith dialogue is well received and appreciated by the Indian leadership. The Vienna-based center for interfaith dialogue funded by Saudi Arabia has on its governing board an Indian religious leader named Swami Agniwesh.
On the other hand, the role played by about two million Indian expatriates in the growth and development of the Kingdom is well appreciated by the Saudi leadership and has played an important role in bringing the two countries closer. They have been participating in all the major developmental projects in the Kingdom. In turn, the Kingdom is the largest source of crude oil for India, meeting around one-fifth of India’s oil requirements.
Also, A. K. Anthony, defense minister of India, paid a visit to Saudi Arabia, the first ever by the Indian defense minister to the Kingdom that further strengthened the defense ties between the two countries as articulated in the Riyadh and Delhi Declarations.
Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha K. Rahman Khan visited the Kingdom to participate in the G-20 Parliamentary Speaker’s Conference. Minister of State for External Affairs E. Ahamed visited the Kingdom in May, 2012, and held high-level meetings with various Saudi dignitaries besides meeting with the members of the Indian community.
From the Saudi side, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, commerce & industry minister led a 76-member delegation to New Delhi earlier this year for the 9th Indo-Saudi Joint Commission Meeting.
Saudi Assistant Petroleum and Mineral Resources Minister Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman visited India in February this year and held meeting with Indian Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister S. Jaipal Reddy. Saudi Parliamentary delegation led by Shoura Council Chairman Dr. Abdullah bin Mohammad bin Ibrahim Asheikh visited India and held meetings with Indian vice president, prime minister, Lok Sabha speaker and also external affairs minister.