Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a bilateral meet with Saudi Arabia King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in Riyadh on October 29, New Delhi announced on Thursday. The two sides are likely to establish a strategic partnership council and finalise a refinery in the Indian state of Maharashtra.
The $44-billion green oil refinery involves investments from Saudi Aramco, UAE’s Abu Dhabi National Oil Co (ADNOC), and Indian public sector companies.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi is paying an official visit to Saudi Arabia on October 29 at the invitation of King of Saudi Arabia his majesty Salman Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud,” TS Tirumurti, Chief Secretary at the Ministry of External Affairs said at a press briefing.
“An agreement on the Strategic Partnership Council will also be signed. There will also be separate delegation-level talks with the Crown prince of Saudi Arabia,” he added.
Special Briefing by Secretary (ER) on upcoming visit of PM to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia https://t.co/HQwPyuIooV
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) October 24, 2019
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Modi will also attend the third session of the Future Investment Initiative (FII) Forum in Riyadh, where he will deliver the keynote address.
“There will also be a bilateral segment to his visit where PM Modi will meet Mohammad Bin Salman Al Saud, Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, and hold bilateral talks with him,” Tirumurti said.
The Indian Prime Minister will also launch the RuPay card – India’s equivalent of Visa and MasterCard – in Saudi Arabia during the trip. He had launched the card in UAE in August this year.
A Memorandum of Understanding on joint venture between Indian Oil Middle East and Saudi Arabia’s Al Jeri Transportation Company for downstream cooperation and retail outlets will also be signed.
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The two countries will hold joint naval exercises in December 2019.
The MEA spokesperson said Prime Minister will reach Riyadh on October 28 late night and meet some Saudi ministers the next day.
