Around 10 million Indians live and work across the Gulf, making the region a critical part of India’s foreign policy and economic interests.
The welfare and safety of the Indian expats, energy security, connectivity and diplomatic engagement with Middle Eastern countries were among the issues discussed at a meeting of the Consultative Committee of Parliament for External Affairs on Monday, according to sources. The meeting underscored the breadth of India’s interests in the Gulf, where the government is simultaneously seeking to protect a large Indian expat community, maintain energy security, strengthen economic connectivity and sustain diplomatic engagement with key regional partners.
The government briefed the panel on measures taken over the past several months to safeguard the interests of Indians in the Gulf, according to sources. Sources said India has secured important supply arrangements in recent months, amid concerns over the impact that disruptions to shipping routes and energy supplies in the region could have on the Indian economy. On the diplomatic front, sources said political engagement between India and Gulf countries has increased in recent months, with regular high-level contacts continuing amid the evolving situation in the Middle East.
