1. Home
  2. Current Affairs
  3. Current News
  4. First India-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

First India-GCC Foreign Ministers’ Meeting

  • 09 Sep 2024

On 8th September 2024, S Jaishankar, India’s External Affairs Minister, landed in Riyadh to attend the inaugural India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers' meeting.

Key Points

  • EAM Three-Nation Tour: EAM visit to Saudi Arabia is the first leg of his three-nation tour, which will also take him to Germany and Switzerland.
  • India-GCC Relations: India’s trade with the GCC countries reached USD 184.46 billion in the 2022-23 financial year, highlighting the significance of the partnership. The GCC includes UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, and Kuwait.
  • Focus of the Meeting: The meeting provides an opportunity to enhance cooperation between India and the GCC in trade, investment, energy, and cultural exchanges. Jaishankar will also hold bilateral meetings with several GCC foreign ministers during the visit.
  • Indian Expatriates: The GCC is home to approximately 8.9 million Indian expatriates, reinforcing strong people-to-people ties between the two regions.