KUWAIT CITY — Indian Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, and Steel, Dharmendra Pradhan, on Monday invited Kuwait to invest in India as he saw the Gulf nation as an important and trusted partner in achieving energy security.

Pradhan, on a two-day visit to Kuwait, made this statement following a meeting with Kuwaiti Oil Minister Khaled Ali Al-Fadhel.

"Had a good meeting with Dr. Khaled Ali Al-Fadhel, Minister of Oil and Acting Minister of Electricity and Water, State of Kuwait. We discussed on how to enhance our energy partnership, including two-way investments in the oil & gas sector," he tweeted.

Pradhan also invited Al-Fadhel to invest in India as a part of the #AatmaNirbharBharat initiative. "Invited Al-Fadhel to invest in India as a part of the #AatmaNirbharBharat initiative and be a part of India's growth story," he further tweeted.

Before his arrival in the Gulf country, the Indian minister said that he was looking forward to meeting the new leadership of Kuwait to further strengthen the multi-faceted India-Kuwait relationship and take forward "our historic relationship" in diverse areas.

Kuwait is a strategically important country for India in the region. It is India's sixth-largest crude oil supplier. The Indian community with strength of about 10 lakh is the largest expatriate community in Kuwait.

Professionals like engineers, doctors, chartered accountants, scientists, software experts, management consultants, architects; technicians and nurses; retail traders and businessmen are present in Kuwait, though a large proportion consists of unskilled and semi-skilled workers.

Kuwait's Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF) is reported to have invested $2 billion in India since 2017, taking the total investment in the country to $5 billion. — Agencies