Ambassador Paramita Tripathi meets Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghunaim to discuss preservation of centuries-old India–Kuwait connections
Kuwait City : Indian Ambassador to Kuwait Mrs. Paramita Tripathi met Dr. Abdullah Al-Ghunaim, President of the Center for Research and Studies on Kuwait, to discuss the longstanding historical and cultural connections between India and Kuwait.
The discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in archaeology, heritage conservation, historical research and preservation of the shared legacy linking the two countries.
India and Kuwait have maintained close links for centuries, particularly through maritime trade across the Arabian Gulf and the Indian Ocean. Before the discovery and development of oil, Kuwaiti traders and sailors travelled to Indian ports aboard traditional wooden dhows, carrying dates, Arabian horses and pearls, which were exchanged for Indian wood, cereals, textiles and spices. The historical trading relationship was so extensive that the Indian Rupee remained legal tender in Kuwait until 1961. (Embassy of India in Kuwait)
The two countries have also highlighted the depth of these connections through cultural and heritage initiatives. In May 2025, Kuwait and India marked 250 years of historical ties, with an exhibition and cultural programme documenting the longstanding maritime, commercial and people-to-people links between the two societies. (Embassy of India in Kuwait)
Cultural exchanges have continued to evolve in contemporary times through programmes showcasing Indian music, dance, food, handicrafts, literature and traditional practices in Kuwait. The Embassy’s recent Bharat Mela editions have further strengthened people-to-people connections, while Arabic translations of abridged versions of the Ramayana and Mahabharata have provided another example of cultural exchange between the two countries. (Embassy of India in Kuwait)
Against this backdrop, cooperation between Indian and Kuwaiti institutions on archaeological research, documentation, conservation and preservation of historical records and artefacts could provide new avenues for understanding the region’s interconnected past.
The meeting reflects the broader effort to build upon the historical and cultural foundations of India–Kuwait relations and translate their shared heritage into new avenues of academic and institutional cooperation. India and Kuwait’s relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership in December 2024. (Embassy of India in Kuwait)