GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi and other dignitaries at ‘Kochi Dialogue 2025’ held in Kochi on Thursday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi has said that India-GCC relationship is deep with a long history of cooperation in areas such as energy and a large population of expatriate Indians in the Gulf countries.

He was delivering a special address at ‘Kochi Dialogue 2025’ with the theme ‘India’s Look West Policy in Action: People, Prosperity and Progress’ organised by the Centre for Public Policy Research and the Ministry of External Affairs.

Mr. Albudaiwi said there was a need to deepen cooperation in areas like technology and innovation, climate change, food security, education, and free trade. He added that the GCC-India relationship was more vital and stronger than ever. The relationship between India and the Gulf countries goes back a long way, and India has been more than a trading partner but a home.

Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh sent his wishes for the success of Kochi Dialogue 2025 as he could not be present at the event.

The two-day Kochi Dialogue 2025 will conclude on Friday. It is a diplomacy conclave, a global channel that explores synergies to address contemporary challenges in geopolitics, governance, economy, international trade and security through pragmatic solutions.

The Kochi Dialogue brings together policymakers, business leaders, stakeholders, and influencers from India and the GCC region.