Image via Wikipedia
India enjoys trade relations with the Persian Gulf states, which include Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Qutar, as well as the United Arab Emirates. Much of their oil comes from these states. In addition, many Indian expatriates live and work in these states.
Trading for oil with these countries not only helps all of them economically, but it also helps India deal with its energy concerns, which includes having enough oil to meet the country’s energy demands, as well as maintaining security over its oil supplies. Kuwait and Saudi Arabia especially help with this by making regular increases in the amount of oil it sends to India.
Other countries, such as Bahrain, also have trade agreements with India, but also work to continue to strengthen all ties, including those dealing with business and finance between the two countries. To this end, Bahrain India Society was formed in 2007.
Relations between India and Egypt go all the way back to when Mohandes Ghandi was in power in India. Trade relations grew from this and other shows of solidarity that the two countries provided to each other. Imports and exports of goods are the main trading practices; however, the service industry is seeing advancement with plans for Egypt to negotiate with an Indian state concerning a fertilizer plant which is operated by natural gas.
Natural gas is a cleaner-burning fuel than other fuels, which will be an asset to India, as air pollution is one of its main concerns.
Other Middle Eastern nations have trade agreements with India, either through bi-lateral agreements or other understandings. In addition, India and Israel have a trade agreement which makes Israel India’s second-largest supplier of arms and weapons.
Trading with any country often requires a careful balancing act. India seems to be doing well in this respect.