India sees West Asia region as 'crucial passage to world beyond': MEA S Jaishankar

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Tuesday emphasised the remarkable growth in India-Middle East relations over the past decade, driven by robust trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties. He said that India views the Middle East as an essential gateway to the world beyond.

Speaking at the inaugural session of the Raisina Middle East conference in Dubai, Jaishankar highlighted the region’s strategic importance, which India refers to as West Asia. He noted that India’s trade with the Gulf region ranges between USD 160 billion and USD 180 billion, underscoring its pivotal role in India’s economic and geopolitical priorities.

“Our presence in the Gulf is both pervasive and crucial. More than 9 million Indians live and work here, but the Gulf also serves as a gateway to the MENA region and the Mediterranean,” Jaishankar said.“Our annual trade with the Mediterranean, incidentally, is another USD 80 billion, and the Indian diaspora there is close to half a million,” the minister said, adding that India’s projects in the region include airports, ports, railways, phosphates, green hydrogen, steel and submarine cables.

Jaishankar said the endeavours of India and the Middle East can be projected further into Africa, Europe, the Caucasus, and Central Asia.“Perhaps there is no domain that has a stronger case for such plurilateral cooperation than that of connectivity… Maritime security and safety is another issue where understandings and mechanisms will have to step in to fill global deficits.

In conclusion, Jaishankar said the Middle East is an extended neighbourhood with which India has fully reconnected, and New Delhi needs to deepen its engagement with the region.The minister here also met Anwar Gargash, Diplomatic Advisor to UAE President, on Tuesday morning and discussed the special partnership between India and UAE and its further progress.

With inputs from agencies.