External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar engaged in a significant telephone conversation with his Bahraini counterpart, Dr Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, to strengthen the comprehensive partnership between the two nations and discuss pressing regional matters.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
The high-level discussion occurred while Jaishankar was visiting New York, marking another chapter in the growing India-Bahrain relationship. Both ministers explored concrete measures to enhance what Jaishankar described as their "longstanding multifaceted partnership."
This phone conversation follows extensive talks held earlier this month in New Delhi, where both countries announced the commencement of negotiations for an ambitious trade deal and moved closer to finalizing an investment agreement.
Economic Cooperation Advances
The bilateral economic relationship received significant momentum with agreements to develop a common understanding for commencing negotiations on a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA). This crucial agreement would eliminate double taxation, provide tax certainty, and significantly boost trade and investment flows between the two countries.
Bahrain holds strategic importance for India in West Asia, with bilateral relations experiencing substantial growth in recent years. The two-way trade reached USD 1.64 billion in 2024-25, underscoring the economic significance of this partnership.
People-to-People Connections
The human connection between India and Bahrain remains exceptionally strong, with approximately 332,000 Indian nationals calling the Gulf nation home. This substantial community represents nearly a quarter of Bahrain's total population of 1.5 million people.
India consistently ranks among the top five trading partners of Bahrain, reflecting the depth of economic engagement between the two nations. The discussions between the foreign ministers also covered current regional and global developments, though specific details of these exchanges were not disclosed publicly.
The continued high-level engagement demonstrates both countries' commitment to deepening their strategic partnership across multiple domains, including economic cooperation, regional security, and people-to-people ties.
