India and Saudi Arabia are getting ready to sign at least six important agreements on Tuesday when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits Jeddah. More agreements might also be added, as discussions were still going on late Monday night.

PM Modi will also talk about the Hajj pilgrimage, including how many Indian pilgrims can go to Saudi Arabia each year, during his meeting with the Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The agreements are expected to cover areas like space, energy, health, science, culture, and new technology.

Officials said meetings in Saudi Arabia went on late to work out the final details. More than a dozen agreements are being talked about, and some may be signed by other government departments. Both countries are also trying to wrap up more deals related to trade, investment, and defence before PM Modi arrives.

Modi will land in Jeddah on Tuesday afternoon. This is a special visit, as it's the first time in 40 years that an Indian Prime Minister has visited Jeddah. Jeddah holds great importance in India-Saudi Arabia ties, especially when it comes to travel and religion. For hundreds of years, it has been a key port for trade between the two countries.

It's also the main entry point for people going to Mecca for Umrah and Hajj. So, anyone travelling for these religious journeys usually lands in Jeddah first, explained Suhel Ajaz Khan, India’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia, ahead of PM Modi’s visit.

He said Hajj is a very important matter for India, and the government, especially the Ministry of Minority Affairs  puts in a lot of effort to organise it. During talks between the two countries, Hajj-related issues are regularly discussed. There has always been good cooperation between India and Saudi Arabia in this area.

India’s Hajj quota for 2025 has increased to 1,75,025, up from 1,36,020 in 2014. Arrangements for 1,22,518 pilgrims have already been made. However, about 42,000 Indians might not be able to go this year because some private Hajj operators delayed signing their contracts.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman will jointly lead the second meeting of the Strategic Partnership Council. This council was set up during PM Modi’s 2019 visit to make the relationship between India and Saudi Arabia even stronger.

On Wednesday, PM Modi will also visit a factory where many Indian workers are employed. It's worth noting that in 2016, he was honoured with Saudi Arabia’s highest civilian award.

 

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