Kuwait

Trade has historically been an important dimension of Indo-Kuwait ties

9th largest oil supplier to India, Kuwait meets about 4.63% of India’s energy needs

Kuwait Development Plan (2015-2020) is throwing open contracts worth over US$115bn in various sectors

Leading exchange houses in Kuwait have drawing agreements with Indian Banks

Indian expatriate community in Kuwait is regarded as the community of first preference

US$ 82.50mn
FDI inflows from April 2000 to March 2021

US$ 12,243.68mn

Bilateral trade value in 2021-2022

Over one million
overseas Indians living in Kuwait

Oil reserve

Oil exports contribute to 92 percent of Kuwait's export revenues according to OPEC data.

Economy

High income. Net creditor status.

Enabling environment

Efficient government, diversified & sustainable economy, quality infrastructure, sustainable environment, excellent healthcare, cosmopolitan human capital, international status

Geography

Strategic location in the Middle East

Brands

Presence of the world's leading brands in automobiles, fashion, electronics, retail

India-Kuwait Bilateral Relations

A summary of the bilateral engagements between India and Kuwait.

Visit of External Affairs Minister to Kuwait - 2018

During the eview of the bilateral cooperation including in areas of Trade & Investment, Defence and Labour issues

Telephone Conversation between the Prime Ministers of India and Kuwait

The telephone conversation between the leaders saw discussions on mutual cooperation and the dissemination of appropriate information in the fight against COVID-19.

India's Exports and Imports to Kuwait

Source: Department of Commerce

Dated: 06/02/2023
Values in US $ Millions

Country / Region: KUWAIT

S.No.	\Year	2017-2018	2018-2019	2019-2020	2020-2021	2021-2022
1.	EXPORT	1,365.66	1,333.92	1,286.56	1,054.20	1,241.93
2.	%Growth		-2.32	-3.55	-18.06	17.81
3.	India’s Total Export	303,526.16	330,078.09	313,361.04	291,808.48	422,004.40
4.	%Growth		8.75	-5.06	-6.88	44.62
5.	%Share	0.45	0.40	0.41	0.36	0.29
6.	IMPORT	7,165.69	7,430.82	9,573.80	5,214.15	11,001.76
7.	%Growth		3.70	28.84	-45.54	111.00
8.	India’s Total Import	465,580.99	514,078.42	474,709.28	394,435.88	613,052.05
9.	%Growth		10.42	-7.66	-16.91	55.43
10.	%Share	1.54	1.45	2.02	1.32	1.79
11.	TOTAL TRADE	8,531.34	8,764.74	10,860.36	6,268.34	12,243.68
12.	%Growth		2.74	23.91	-42.28	95.33
13.	India’s Total Trade	769,107.15	844,156.51	788,070.32	686,244.36	1,035,056.45
14.	%Growth		9.76	-6.64	-12.92	50.83
15.	%Share	1.11	1.04	1.38	0.91	1.18
16.	TRADE BALANCE	-5,800.03	-6,096.90	-8,287.24	-4,159.95	-9,759.83
17.	India’s Trade Balance	-162,054.83	-184,000.33	-161,348.24	-102,627.40	-191,047.65

Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority

(+965) 2 2054050

Visit Website

East, Shuhada Street, Al Hamra Real Estate Tower, Floor 44, s. B: 3690 Safat 13037

Embassy of India, Kuwait

00965 22530612 - 14

Visit Website

Diplomatic Enclave,
Arabian Gulf Street,P O Box No.1450,Safat 13015, Kuwait

Opportunities

Agricultural exports

Mixtures of juices, unfermented & not cont. added spirit, whether or not co … (200990)

agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

Waters, incl. min. waters & aerated waters, cont. added sugar/oth. sweeteni … (220210)

agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

Carcasses/half-carcasses of bovine animals, fresh/chilled (020110)
Cuts & edible offal of species Gallus domesticus, frozen (020714)
Meat of bovine animals, frozen, boneless (020230)
Meat of fowls of species Gallus domesticus, not cut in pieces, frozen (020712)

agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits & oth. bakers’ wares n.e.s. in Ch.19, whethe … (190590)
Sweet biscuits (190531)

agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

Maize (corn), other than seed (100590)
OTHER BARLEY EXCL SEED (100390)
OTHER WHEAT AND MESLIN (100199)
Semi-milled/wholly milled rice, whether or not polished/glazed (100630)

agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

Chocolate & oth. food preps. cont. cocoa (excl. of 1806.20-1806.32) (180690)

agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

Cheese (excl. of 0406.10-0406.40) (040690)
Milk in powder/granules/oth. solid form, unsweetened, fat content by wt. >1 … (040221)
Processed cheese, not grated/powdered (040630)

agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

Food preps., n.e.s. (210690)
Mixes & doughs for the preparation of bakers’ wares of 19.05 (190120)
OTHER LACTOSE AND LACTOSE SYRUP (170219)
OTHR EDBL MXR/PRPNS OF ANML/VEGTBL FATS/ OILS/OF FRACTNS OF DIFFRNT FATS/OILS (151790)
Preparations for infant use, put up for RS (190110)
Prepared foods obt. by the swelling/roasting of cereals/cereal prods. (190410)
Prepared/presvd. preps. of fowls of the genus Gallus domesticus (excl. homo … (160232)
Prepared/presvd. preps. of swine (excl. of 1602.41, 1602.42 & homogenised p … (160249)
Sauces & preps. therefor, n.e.s.; mixed condiments & mixed seasonings, n.e. … (210390)
Whey & modified whey, whether or not concentrated/sweetened (040410)

agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

Food preps., n.e.s. (210690)
Preparations for infant use, put up for RS (190110)

agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

BANANAS FRSH OR DRIED (080390)

agriexchange.apeda.gov.in

Crustacean; frozen, shrimps and prawns, excluding cold – water varieties, in shell or not, smoked, cooked or not before or during smoking; in shell, cooked by steaming or by boiling water
Fish preparations; tunas, skipjack and Atlantic bonito (Sarda spp.), prepared or preserved, whole or in pieces (but not minced)
Fish; fresh or chilled, salmonidae, n.e.c., ecluding fillets, livers, roes and other fish meat
Fish; fresh pr chilled, flat fish, n.e.c. , excluding fillets, livers, roes and other fish meat
Fish; frozen excluding fillets, livers, roes and other fish meat

fishexchange.mpeda.gov.in

Employment Opportunities

*Information subject to changes amid the global COVID-19 pandemic.

This Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor provides the work permit.

The number of Indian nationals stood at 1,029,861 in February 2019. The majority of them are employed in private sector followed by domestic sector while over 28,300 are employed in government sector. The Indian community constitutes the single largest expatriate population and is the community of first preference among expatriates for employment.

Applying for a Work Permit: https://www.e.gov.kw/sites/kgoenglish/Pages/Services/MOSAL/WorkPermit.aspx

More Info: Visa Application General Department of Residency

Public and private infrastructure building, maintenance

The construction sector in Kuwait is anticipated to record a CAGR of 6.8% over 2019-24. Construction of civic infrastructure and connectivity projects has largely been supported by foreign workers at different levels in Kuwait (Expatriates hold around 95% of the manufacturing and construction jobs). Construction and manufacturing sectors are forecasted to employ around 850,000 people by 2030

Ministry of Public Works General Directorate of Residency Affairs

Tax, accounting, banking, insurance, audit and other financial services

Kuwait’s banking sector reported a more than 19% year-on-year increase in profits in 2018. Financial services in Kuwait are supported by foreign workers at different capacities.

Ministry of Finance General Directorate of Residency Affairs

Doctors, nurses, radiologists, lab technicians

The healthcare industry in Kuwait is expected to grow 7.5% annually by 2020. Kuwait attracts large number of healthcare workers ranging from doctors to nurses and lab technicians.

Ministry of Health General Directorate of Residency Affairs

Culinary, server, personal care, hotel, tour and travel staffing

Kuwait plans to invest US$1 billion to promote tourism and increase annual foreign tourist arrivals to 440,000 by 2024. The hospitality sector in Kuwait, ranging from hotels to tourism to personal care, employs foreign workers.

Tourism in Kuwait General Directorate of Residency Affairs

Software, hardware, new technology in telecoms and communications

Kuwait is focusing on ICT looks as an agent of non-oil income growth as part of a concerted effort to diversify the economy. The IT and ICT infrastructure in Kuwait has been set up and is supported by foreign workers.

Ministry Of Communications General Directorate of Residency Affairs

Automobile to food products production

Kuwait Government is taking a host of initiatives to boost the manufacturing industry under the US$120-billion Kuwait Development Plan. The manufacturing industry in Kuwait, covering a range of products, draws foreign manpower.

Ministry of Commerce and Industry General Directorate of Residency Affairs

Upstream oil and gas sector staffing

Oil contributes around 50% of Kuwait’s GDP, as well as up to 95% of the nation’s total exports. Kuwait’s oil and gas exploration sector is a major employer and strength for the economy.

Ministry of Oil General Directorate of Residency Affairs

Faculty positions up to university

The education sector in Kuwait is expected to cross US$3 billion by 2022, as per Ken Research. The education sector in Kuwait, ranging from schools to universities draw foreign teaching staff from different disciplines.

Ministry of Education General Directorate of Residency Affairs