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| External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj shakes hands with King of Bahrain, Hamad Bin Isa Al Khalifa during a meeting in Bahrain.
Swaraj, who is in Bahrain for a two-day visit to attend the first ministerial meeting of the India-Arab League Cooperation Forum to be held on Sunday, held “wide-ranging” discussions with Bahrain’s Foreign Minister Khalid bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
After the talks, the two leaders signed the agreement on the transfer of sentenced persons. According to the pact, once an expatriate has been sentenced in the other country, the sentence can be served in the country of origin.
In a special gesture, Khalid also received Swaraj at the Bahrain International Airport upon her arrival. Immediately after landing, Swaraj headed to the Bahrain International Air Show.
On the sidelines of the air show at Sakhir Airbase, Swaraj also called on Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. King Hamad, who received her at an international air show, as both of them watched India’s indigenously developed Dhruv helicopters and Tejas Light Combat Aircraft perform aerobatics in the skies.
In the evening, Swaraj held comprehensive talks with Khalid as they vowed to boost ties between the two nations.“Both sides discussed the possibilities of also concluding the pending agreement,” Secretary East Anil Wadhwa told reporters after the talks.“The Double Taxation Avoidance agreement is something Bahrain would like to see happen with India and India would like to see an MoU on defence cooperation with Bahrain. Bahrain is also interested in this agreement...both sides are working towards that,” he said.
Asked if counter-terrorism was discussed, Wadhwa said, “Whenever India and Bahrain meet, this is an issue that is always discussed, security cooperation in the region and how both sides can contribute to each other’s security. India and Bahrain have cooperated really well recently in this field and this cooperation will continue.”On being asked if India and Bahrain vowed to strengthen ties in security, counter-terrorism and trade, he said, it can be “summed up” in that way as there was a discussion on all the three areas.
Swaraj also visited the India pavilion at the air show where the scientists gave the minister a briefing on Tejas.The Tejas flight was hailed by officials present as a “historic event” as the country hopes to explore potential export opportunities.Wadhwa said Bahrain was facing a “crunch” due to the oil situation of the world and was looking to diversify its economy. In that context, India invited the Bahraini side to participate in India’s flagship Make in India programme.
Bahrain appreciated the Indian community’s contribution to the Bahraini economy and hoped that the flow of workers from the country would continue, he added.
India and the Arab League are expected to deliberate on the whole gamut of bilateral issues including trade and investment, energy and culture among others.India’s trade with most of the Arab countries has grown steadily in the last few years. The Gulf region accounts for over 60 per cent of India’s oil and gas requirement.
The Arab League comprises of Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Yemen, Jordan, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Morocco, Tunisia, Kuwait, Algeria, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Mauritania, Somalia, Palestine, Djibouti, and Comoros.
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