WEB DESK: Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday called for Bahrain’s backing to further India’s engagement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) during a meeting with his Bahraini counterpart, Abdullatif Al-Zayani, in New Delhi.
Al-Zayani traveled to India on Sunday to jointly preside with Jaishankar over the fifth session of the India-Bahrain High Joint Commission. Established in 2018, the commission serves as the primary institutional framework to strengthen bilateral ties between the nations.
Jaishankar highlighted the substantial progress made since the previous meeting in fields like defense, security, trade and commerce, healthcare, culture, and fostering people-to-people connections. He also pointed out emerging opportunities for collaboration in sectors such as space, fintech, and technology that could bolster the partnership further.
He sought Bahrain’s support in accelerating collaboration between India and the GCC, while emphasizing the significance of this cooperation in his opening remarks.
India has long pursued a free trade agreement with the GCC, with efforts dating back nearly two decades. The Framework Agreement on Economic Cooperation was signed in 2004, yet two rounds of negotiations in 2006 and 2008 failed to yield results. Earlier this year, the GCC’s secretary-general confirmed that the bloc intends to initiate free trade talks with India by 2025.
This agreement is expected to benefit India by providing greater access to an expansive and affluent market for its goods, along with relaxed visa policies for Indians working within the region. Nearly 9 million Indian expatriates reside across GCC member states, making the region vital for India’s labor force overseas.
Bahrain, which will host the upcoming Supreme Council of GCC summit in Manama next month, is set to assume the presidency of the council during this event. This position offers Bahrain an opportunity to enhance collaborative mechanisms and collective responses across GCC members.
Al-Zayani reiterated Bahrain’s commitment to strengthening ties with India, expressing optimism about fostering connectivity between India and the Gulf region. He underscored Bahrain’s dedication to deepening its partnership with India, as reflected in their shared strategic goals.
Following the High Joint Commission meeting, a statement from India’s Ministry of External Affairs highlighted discussions on expanding cooperation surrounding healthcare. This includes health services, medical care, clinical research, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.
During last year’s meeting in Manama, both sides agreed to widen education sector collaborations. India also extended invitations for more Bahraini students to pursue advanced studies at leading Indian institutions.
Bahrain hosts approximately 332,000 Indian nationals, constituting nearly a quarter of its population of 1.5 million residents.
