Kuwait Times, Thursday, Oct 14, 2021 | Rabi Al-Awwal 8, 1443
NCCAL and Indian Embassy sign cultural cooperation agreement
Kuwait:
The National Council of Culture, Arts and Letters (NCCAL) and the Embassy of
India yesterday signed an agreement on cultural cooperation on the occasion of
the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Kuwait
and India. NCCAL Secretary General Kamel Abdul Jalil and Indian Ambassador to
Kuwait Sibi George signed the agreement at a ceremony held at the Kuwait
National Library.
Announcing the yearlong celebrations, Abdul Jalil
said a series of joint events have been scheduled, covering the entire spectrum
of culture, art and letters to mark the milestone year. “This anniversary year
is very important for both countries and the joint celebrations are to mark an
important milestone in the shared history of the bilateral relations of our two
countries,” he said. He also highlighted the excellent bilateral relations
between Kuwait and India, especially the age-old people-to-people connection,
civilizational affinities and mutual aims. He expressed his desire to bolster
cultural exchanges between the two countries.
In his remarks, George said India-Kuwait relations
are time-tested. “They have been built over strong foundations by our peoples
over centuries based on mutual trust and respect. Over time, the partnership has
blossomed into a forward-looking dynamic partnership,” he said, adding the new
India-Kuwait partnership will connect the visions of the leaderships of the two
countries for mutual development and progress of the peoples of the two
countries.
“The leadership of India has given us a roadmap to
rekindle the India-Kuwait relationship and take it to a new level of
partnership. Every step that we undertake, including this joint collaborative
yearlong celebration by NCCAL and the embassy, is part of this roadmap,” the
ambassador said.
The series of celebrations will commence with a
joint musical program on Dec 2, 2021. This will be followed by a cultural week,
when a seminar on historical relations between India and Kuwait will be
presented by well-known writer Hind Al-Harbi and an Indian resident-writer.
The cultural week will also witness events such as
screening of Indian movies, stage performances, seminar on wellness tourism
opportunities, joint musical evenings, joint activities on antiquities and
maritime trade routes, clothing exhibition, pottery exhibition, symposium on the
connect between Indian and Kuwaiti cuisines, and currency and jewelry
exhibitions, among others. A closing ceremony will be held on July 3, 2022.
George said more details of the celebrations will
be announced in the coming weeks. “Our objective is to involve all our Kuwaiti
friends and the Indian community in these celebrations and make it a memorable
year in our relationship,” he affirmed.