Kuwait: Ambassador discusses return of Indians in oil sector

Kuwait City: The Indian Ambassador to Kuwait, Sibi George, met with the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Oil, Dr. Nimer Al Sabah, to discuss the quick return of Indian nationals working in the oil sector and their families.

Indians, like other non-Kuwaitis, have been barred from entering Kuwait since February 7 since the government put in place a travel ban. Then, on April 24, as India was witnessing a spike in COVID-19 cases, Kuwait suspended all flights between the two countries barring any passengers travelling from India from entering Kuwait. Ambassador Sibi also discussed with Dr. Nimer the issue of renewing residency permits for Indian engineers working in the oil sector.

Last June, Kuwait announced that it will half the hiring of expats at the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, the main state-run energy producer.

Bilateral relations

Kuwait and India have enjoyed decades of friendly relationship on several fronts.

As India was going through a COVID-19 crisis in the past month, Kuwait rushed to its help. Several aid shipments have been deployed to India, ranging from oxygen supplies to relief aid to help relieve the suffering of the Indian people as COVID-19 cases skyrocketed.

On the cultural front, Ambassador Sibi also met with the Head of the Historical Documents and Museum Centre at the Amiri Diwan, Mona Al Sabah, to discuss cultural relations between India and Kuwait, given that this year the two countries are celebrating 60 years since diplomatic relations were established.

The Indian community is the largest foreign expat community in Kuwait, with around 1.45 million Indians residing in Kuwait. Indians make up 36 per cent of the four million population.