Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday received Kuwait's highest civilian award 'The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer', from the Amir of Kuwait, Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al Sabah during his visit to the nation on Sunday. The latest award is the 20th international honour given to the Indian prime minister.
The Order of Mubarak Al Kabeer to the Indian prime minister is a knighthood order of Kuwait. It is awarded to heads of state, foreign sovereigns, and members of foreign royal families as a sign of friendship. The award has been previously bestowed to leaders, incouding US Presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush; and British King Charles.
PM Modi dedicated the award to the long-standing friendship between India and Kuwait, to the Indian community in Kuwait and to the 1.4 billion people of India, a government statement said shortly after the prime minister received the honour.
".he conferment of the award on this historic visit of a Prime Minister of India to Kuwait after 43 years added a special meaning to the occasion. The award was instituted in 1974 and has since been conferred on select global leaders," it said.
PM Modi also held extensive talks with Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah with a focus on imparting new momentum to India-Kuwait relations, especially in areas of trade, investment and energy.
Earlier in the day, Modi received a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait ahead of his talks with Kuwait's top leadership.
He arrived in the Gulf nation on Saturday on a two-day trip, the first to the country by an Indian prime minister in 43 years. He is visiting Kuwait at the invitation of Kuwaiti Emir Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.
The last Indian prime minister to visit Kuwait was Indira Gandhi in 1981.
"PM @narendramodi arrives at the Bayan Palace in Kuwait to a ceremonial welcome and Guard of Honour. Warmly received by HH Sheikh Ahmed Abdullah Al-Ahmed Al-Sabah, PM of Kuwait," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X.
List Of Honours Received By PM Modi
PM Modi had earlier received honours from Gulf countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain. In November, Guyana and Dominica conferred their top awards on the Prime Minister for his contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic and his exceptional contributions to the global community.
In the same month, Nigeria conferred its national award - the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger - on Prime Minister Modi for his statesmanship and stellar contribution to fostering bilateral ties, making him the second foreign dignitary to receive the distinction.