Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday evening for a two-day official visit to India, marking a significant step in the evolving partnership between the two nations.
His visit aims to strengthen ties and enhance cooperation across a wide range of sectors, building on the already robust foundation laid by the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC).
The SPC, established in 2019 during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia, serves as a high-level mechanism to foster collaboration across political, security, social, and cultural domains.
On Wednesday, Prince Faisal is scheduled to co-chair the second meeting of the Political, Security, Social, and Cultural Committee of the SPC, highlighting the broad scope of the bilateral relationship. This platform facilitates in-depth dialogue and coordination on issues that are of mutual interest to both countries, from regional security to socio-cultural initiatives.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) of India extended a warm welcome to the Saudi Foreign Minister, emphasising the potential of this visit to further deepen the multifaceted partnership between the two nations.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared a message on X (formerly Twitter), welcoming Prince Faisal and underscoring the importance of his visit in adding momentum to the India-Saudi Arabia bilateral relationship.
Prince Faisal’s agenda includes a meeting with India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, set to take place at Hyderabad House on Wednesday. This meeting is expected to cover a variety of topics, ranging from economic partnerships and regional security to cultural exchanges, as both countries continue to seek opportunities for cooperation across traditional and emerging sectors.
This visit follows closely on the heels of Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal’s recent trip to Saudi Arabia. During his visit, Goyal represented India at the 8th Edition of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Riyadh, engaging in discussions that underscored the critical role of international partnerships in fostering global innovation, technological progress, and sustainable development.
According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Goyal highlighted the importance of economic diplomacy and international collaboration in promoting growth, innovation, and shared prosperity on a global scale.
Over recent years, India and Saudi Arabia have signed numerous bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation in areas such as food exports, pharmaceuticals, energy, and digital manufacturing.
These agreements reflect both countries’ commitment to creating a mutually beneficial partnership that supports economic growth and development. Furthermore, both nations are exploring collaborations in emerging sectors, including fintech, clean energy, and high-tech industries, which are anticipated to create new avenues for trade and investment.
Among these emerging sectors, energy collaboration holds particular promise. Both India and Saudi Arabia are increasingly focusing on clean energy and sustainability, and discussions during Prince Faisal’s visit are likely to touch on initiatives related to energy efficiency and clean hydrogen production.
These areas align with global efforts to address climate change and transition to renewable energy sources, and they provide significant opportunities for investment and technological exchange.
In addition to energy, India and Saudi Arabia are actively seeking ways to collaborate in the fields of textiles, mining, and small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which are vital components of economic resilience and growth.
The emphasis on SMEs reflects a shared interest in fostering entrepreneurship and supporting businesses that drive job creation and economic diversification.
Both countries are also showing interest in enhancing digital interconnectivity, particularly in fields such as electronic manufacturing and the broader technology sector. By promoting digital and technological collaboration, India and Saudi Arabia aim to capitalise on their respective strengths to foster innovation and address shared challenges in the digital age.
Follow us
