PM Modi arrvived in Saudi Arabia on Saturday as part of a three-nation tour.
Highlights
- Your sweat and toil is the pride of India: PM to workers in Saudi Arabia
- PM on 2-day visit to Saudi Arabia, which is home to 3 million Indians
- PM to discuss energy, security, trade and oil with Saudi leaders
On his first visit to Riyadh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi ended Saturday breaking bread with workers at a residential complex habited by Indian workers who are working on the metro rail in the Saudi capital.
PM Modi's two-day visit to Saudi Arabia, the fourth by any Indian Premier to the Kingdom, comes loaded with symbolism and strategic importance.
Addressing the Indian community Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "The world is in dire financial crisis. World Bank and other agencies are citing India as a new sign of hope and a new shining star. And it's true that in this dire situation, India has been able to stand through."
Home to around three million Indian workers, Saudi Arabia is India's fourth largest trading partner. But it has also been a long term ally of Pakistan given its shared Sunni heritage.
The timing for PM Modi's trip is also significant as it comes on the back of US- Saudi joint sanctions on Pakistan-based terrorist organisations including the Lashkar-e-Taiba responsible for the 26/11 attacks.
G Parthasarathy, Former Diplomat who also headed of Gulf Division, Ministry of External Affairs told NDTV, "The Saudis are facing a changed world in which they are no longer as important to Americans as they were. There is a surplus of oil and they are mortally scared of Iran coming in. In these circumstances their policies are moving more closer to those of Asia where their markets are and their three largest markets are Japan, China and India."
The PM has a packed Sunday ahead with meetings with King Salman Bin Abdul Al Saud, Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Naif, Deputy Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman as well as Saudi business leaders and a visit to TCS' IT centre for women.
With Saudi Arabia recently forming a coalition of 34 Islamic nations to fight terror particularly the threat of ISIS, high on the agenda is also greater security cooperation and combating terror.