Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – India and Saudi Arabia are in discussions regarding a state visit by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to India, Indian television channel Timesnow reported on Friday.
The discussions are said to be centered around the Crown Prince’s visit after the G20 summit on September 9-10 which he would also be attending.
The G20 is a forum for international economic cooperation, and the summit provides an opportunity for leaders of the world’s major economies to discuss various global issues.
A visit by the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia to India could hold significance in terms of bilateral relations between the two countries. The relationship between Saudi Arabia and India has been growing in recent years, and there has been significant progress in a number of areas. Saudi Arabia is India’s fourth largest trading partner, and the two countries have signed a number of agreements to boost trade and investment. In 2022, bilateral trade was valued at US$29.28 billion.
Saudi Arabia is a major supplier of oil to India, and the two countries have been working to develop renewable energy projects together. In 2021, they signed an agreement to cooperate on solar energy, and they are also exploring the possibility of developing nuclear power projects.
Saudi companies such as Al-Jomaih and Al-Fanar have invested in solar and wind energy projects in India. Saudi company Al- Fanar has stakes in a 600 MW wind power project in India which it acquired in 2018 in an auction conducted by state-run Solar Energy Corp of India.
India and Saudi Arabia have been increasing their defense cooperation in recent years. In 2022, they signed an agreement to jointly develop military technologies, and they have also been conducting joint exercises.
In 2019, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Saudi Arabia and met with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The two leaders signed a number of agreements to boost economic and strategic cooperation.