The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee yesterday (February 19, 2014) received His Majesty King Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the King of Bahrain at Rashtrapati Bhavan and hosted a banquet in his honour.

Welcoming the King, the President said the royal family of Bahrain have played a pivotal role in promoting, enriching and diversifying relations between India and Bahrain for mutual benefit. The Gulf region is source of over half of India’s energy needs, home to over 7 million Indians and as a region, India’s largest trading partner. It is part of India’s extended neighbourhood. India has substantial stakes in peace and stability in the region.

In his banquet speech, the President said India and Bahrain have a long standing friendship based on civilisational ties. The two countries have in recent times, expanded their ties of trust and understanding into a comprehensive relationship across the full spectrum of political, economic, commercial and people to people contacts.

The President said Bahrain has generously embraced a large number of Indian expatriates and encouraged them to flourish and prosper, which India deeply appreciates. On their part, Indians in Bahrain have worked with dedication and sincerity to contribute wholeheartedly to the development and progress of their host country. They provide an organic link with India and act as a strong bridge in the furtherance of our partnership.

The President said India welcomes, with open arms, Bahraini friends, both from the private as well as the public sector, to invest in India. Indian companies, with rich experience in executing complex and large infrastructure projects, are interested in contributing to such projects in Bahrain. There is vast potential for bilateral cooperation based on the inherent strengths and complementarities, including in areas such as healthcare, environment, education, information technology and renewable energy sources.

Speaking at the welcome banquet, the King of Bahrain said exchange of views with Indian Officials at all levels on the latest international developments makes Bahrain acknowledge and appreciate the great efforts India exerts in strengthening and consolidating international security and stability throughout the world, including the Middle East and the Arabian Gulf region. Bahrain also recognizes India’s unmistakable efforts in countering and combating international terrorism as well as its cooperation to eradicate terrorism in all its forms and shapes, alongside India’s call for non-intervention in the internal affairs of others.

The King said Bahrain truly values the hard work, devotion, determination, and immeasurable contributions of the Indian community in the modern development process of the Kingdom. Moreover, Bahrain treasures the relations shared by people of the two countries; Bahrain is host to a substantial Indian community, the largest expatriate community residing in Bahrain. Their contribution is invaluable. They enjoy full freedom to practice their religious rituals equally as the rest of all citizens and other expatriates, and have the right to join professional associations and elect their representatives in Municipal elections. This is sewn into the national fabric of Bahrain’s versatile society.