S Jaishankar to embark on six-day visit to Saudi Arabia, Germany, Switzerland

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will embark on a six-day visit (September 8 to 13) to three countries: Saudi Arabia, Germany and Switzerland. Jaishankar will begin his tour in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, where he will attend the first India-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Foreign Ministers’ Meeting. During his two-day stay (September 8-9), he is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with foreign ministers from GCC member countries.

India and the GCC share a deep and multifaceted relationship, encompassing political, trade and investment, energy cooperation, and cultural and people-to-people ties. The GCC region is a major trading partner for India and hosts around 8.9 million Indian expatriates. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the foreign ministers’ meeting will provide an opportunity to review and strengthen institutional cooperation between India and the GCC across various sectors.

On the second leg of his tour, Jaishankar will travel to Berlin, Germany, for a two-day visit (September 10-11). This will be his third bilateral visit to Berlin. Germany is one of India’s key trading partners and one of the largest sources of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

During his stay, Jaishankar will meet with the German Federal Foreign Minister, other government leaders, and ministers to review the full scope of bilateral relations.

Jaishankar will conclude his trip with a visit to Geneva, Switzerland, home to numerous UN bodies and international organisations. During his two-day stay (September 12-13), he will meet heads and representatives of international organisations with which India is actively engaged.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not address the annual debate at the United Nations General Assembly session later this month, according to a revised provisional list of speakers issued by the UN. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is now expected to address the General Debate on September 28.