In Saudi, PM to focus on expat contributions

MODI WILL ATTEND TWO EVENTS THAT HIGHLIGHT THE CONTRIBUTION OF INDIAN COMPANIES IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF SAUDI ARABIA

NEW DELHI: Saudi Arabia hosts 2.96 million Indians. They account for the largest number of Indian passport holders residing in any one country outside India and send home $10 billion annually.

But the diaspora engagement, a key aspect of the foreign trips of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, will see a break from the past when he visits the kingdom on April 2 and 3.

Modi will attend two events that highlight the contribution of Indian companies in the development of Saudi Arabia rather than his usual interaction with Indian diaspora gathering in huge numbers, keeping in mind the sensitivities involved in organising such meetings in the kingdom.

In the other Gulf country Modi has visited so far, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), he had addressed an overflowing crowd of Indians at the Dubai cricket stadium.

In the evening on April 2, Modi will visit the L&T workers residential complex. L&T is currently engaged in the construction of the Riyadh Metro Project, a $600 billion-worth project where one of the lines has been constructed by them.

This visit is in line with India looking at getting a bigger share of the pie in infrastructure projects lined up by in the near future.

“Saudis are undertaking almost $1 trillion of infrastructure projects for the next five years and we will request them to look at the competence of Indian companies in this regard. Of course, there will be some agreements signed during the visit,” said Mridul Kumar, joint secretary (Gulf), in the external affairs ministry. On April 3, Modi will visit Tata Consultancy Services’ All Women IT Centre.

“It is a very happy thing that he will be doing because this centre provides employment opportunities to Saudi women and this is empowerment of Saudi women,” Kumar said.