Prime Minister (PM) of India, Narendra Modi, undertook an official two day official visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from April 22-23, 2025 at the invitation of the Crown Prince and PM of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. PM Narendra Modi was given a grand welcome with a 21-gun salute at the airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
- This was PM Narendra Modi’s third visit to Saudi Arabia, highlighting a key step in deepening the relationship between the two countries. He visited Saudi Arabia for the first time in 2016, followed by another visit in 2019.
- This also marked his 15th official trip to the Gulf region since assuming office in 2014.
Highlights of the Visit:
2nd Meeting of India–Saudi Arabia SPC:
During the visit, PM Narendra Modi and Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman held official talks and co-chaired the second meeting of the India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC).
Key Discussions:
i.Both leaders discussed strengthening cooperation in key areas such as energy, defence, trade, investment, technology and culture, reviewed progress on the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC), and exchanged views on regional and global matters.
ii.Both leaders welcomed the plan to work together on setting up two oil refineries in India.
iii.PM Narendra Modi proposed linking payment systems and settling trade in local currencies.
Key Decisions:
i.The SPC has decided to form a new Ministerial Committee focused on Defence Cooperation to reflect the growing partnership between India and Saudi Arabia.
ii.The SPC has also approved the creation of a new Ministerial Committee on Tourism and Cultural Cooperation, to further strengthen cultural ties and people-to-people connections.
iii.The India-Saudi Arabia SPC will now consist of four Ministerial Committees:
- Political, Consular and Security Cooperation
- Defence Cooperation
- Economy, Energy, Investment and Technology
- Tourism and Cultural Cooperation
iv.High-Level Task Force (HLTF) on Investment has reached agreements to accelerate Saudi Arabia’s USD 100 billion Commitment to invest in India across sectors like energy, infrastructure, technology, and more.
Key Agreements:
During PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia, India and Saudi Arabia signed 4 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to enhance bilateral cooperation across various sectors:
i.A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Saudi Space Agency and the Department of Space of India to cooperate in space activities for peaceful purposes.
- On the Saudi side, the agreement was signed by Chairman of the Saudi Space Agency, Abdullah Alswaha, while on the Indian side, it was signed by Union Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).
ii.The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoH&FW) of India and the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia signed a MoU to work together in the health sector.
- This includes sharing best practices, enhancing healthcare services, and jointly addressing public health challenges.
iii.A MoU was signed between the Saudi Arabian Anti-Doping Committee (SAADC) and the New Delhi (Delhi)- based National Anti-Doping Agency of India (NADA) to support each other in the field of anti-doping.
- The agreement focuses on promoting clean sports through joint awareness programs and capacity-building efforts
iv.A MoU was signed between the Saudi Post Corporation (SPL) and the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications (MoC) of India, to enhance cooperation in surface parcel services from Saudi Arabia to India, aiming to make the process more reliable and efficient.
About India–Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) :
The India–Saudi Arabia SPC is a high-level bilateral mechanism established in 2019 during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Saudi Arabia.
- The inaugural Leaders’ Meeting of the India–Saudi Arabia SPC was held in 2023, in New Delhi(Delhi) during the state visit of Saudi Crown Prince and PM Mohammed bin Salman, following his participation in the G20 Summit hosted by India.
About the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia:
Prime Minister (PM)– Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud
Capital-Riyadh
Currency– Saudi Riyal(SAR)
