Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary General Arrives in New Delhi to Strengthen India-Gulf Ties

Jasem Mohammad Al Budaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), arrived in the Indian capital today on an official visit aimed at deepening the historic and strategic partnership between India and the six-nation Gulf bloc.

He was received at the airport by Randhir Jaiswal, Spokesperson of India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), who extended a warm welcome. Jaiswal said “Warm welcome to Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council Mr. Jasem Mohammad Al Budaiwi on his arrival in New Delhi. His visit will further deepen the historic and strong India-GCC ties.”

The GCC comprises Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Reports indicate that discussions during the visit are expected to focus on advancing long-pending negotiations for a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and the GCC, alongside broader cooperation in areas such as energy, technology, defence, and people-to-people exchanges.

This high-level engagement comes at a time of expanding India-Gulf relations, bolstered by frequent leadership-level interactions and shared interests in regional stability and economic growth. Further details on the visit’s agenda, including meetings with Indian officials, are anticipated in the coming days.