GCC (gulf cooperation council) and its relations with India

GCC Background:

Established: 25 May 1981in Abu Dhabi.

Objective:

·to formulate similar regulations in fields such as religious, finance, trade, customs, tourism, legislation, and administration.

·to strengthen scientific and technical progress in industry, mining, agriculture, water and animal resources.

·to establish scientific research centers.

·to set  up joint ventures.

·  Unified military presence (Peninsula Shield Force)(military force).

·to build strong cooperation of the private sector.

·to strengthen ties between their peoples.

·establishing a common currency by 2010(khaleeji :proposed name of currency)

Positive Binders:

·         Oil and gas reserve

·         Investment in infrastructure

·         Hotspot events for sports(Asian Games,FIFA world Cup,summer Olympic games)

·         Indian population in GCC countries(Cultural Relationship)

·         some of the fastest growing economies in the world

Members :  Arab states bordering the Persian Gulf, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates

Non-Members :

·         Iraq :

is the only Arab country bordering the Persian Gulf that is not a member of the council. The associate membership of Iraq was discontinued in 1990 after its invasion of Kuwait in the First Gulf War.Kuwait supports Iraq joining the GCC

·         Jordon Moracco :

the only two Arab monarchies not currently in the council, the current members see them as strong potential allies. Although Morocco is not near the Persian Gulf, the Moroccan foreign minister TaeibFassiFihri notes that "geographical distance is no obstacle to a strong relationship"

·         Yemen:

hopes to join by 2015. Although it has no coastline on the Persian Gulf, Yemen is on the Arabian peninsula and shares a common culture and history with other members of the GCC.The GCC members and Yemen are also members of the Greater Arab Free Trade Area (GAFTA).

·         Iran :

At the December 2012 Manama summit, the GCC states called for an end to Iranian interference in their internal affairs

India and its Relationship

Background :

·         immediate neighborhood separated by Arabian sea

·         vital stake in the stability, security and economic well-being of the Gulf..

·         major trading partner of india(oil and Gas reserve)

·         to strengthen relationship by fallowing Look ‘west’ policy

·         FTA agreements (natural economic hinterland)

·         Man-power agreement

	Saudi Arabia	Kuwait
Historical/Cultural	·         Since 3 B.C	·         recent discovery of artifacts such as pottery and jewellery from the Kuwaiti island of Failaka point to commercial and cultural interaction between the two countries ·         horse trade ·         The demolition of the Babri Masjid also impacted ties
Political	·         J.Nehru,I.Gandhi,M.Singh Visit ·         King Abdullah visit after 51 years ·         5 Principle of Peaceful co-existence ·         Support for membership in OIC ·         Co-operation to Reduce Terrorism ·         Extradition treaty signed	·         2006 visit by sheiksabah al-ahmed al-jaber al-sabeh
Social	·         set up institutes of higher education and research, provide educational opportunities in India for Saudi Arabian students and expand cooperation between India's Council of Scientific and Industrial Research and the Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (SASO)	·         Indians form one of the largest expatriate communities in Kuwait numbering about 640,000 people ·         18 Indian Schools  of kuwait affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi
Economical	·         Trade relations with southern india(spice) ·         During the 1930s, India heavily funded Nejd through financial subsidies. ·         Latgest supplier of oil to india ·         1.4 million workers ·         Embargo against india during oil crises	·         Oil imports ·         a centre for ship building and pearl diving and fishing were important commercial activities ·         DTAA and BIPA agreement ·         PSU and Private industries(LnT) ·         Trade facilitated by Kuwait fund for arabic economic development
SnT	·         launch joint ventures for developing gas-based fertiliser plants in Saudi Arabia	·         agreements on avoidance of Double Taxation, drug reduction and prevention of illicit trafficking in narcotic drugs

	Qatar	U.A.E
Historical/Cultural	·         since 200years ago and credit goes to thattibhatias ,kutchibhatias ,luwatias ·         diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1973, was on Cultural and Technical Cooperation (1980). ·         presence of the large Indian population, representing all regions and religions, contributes significantly in promoting Indian art, culture and traditions in this country.  The Indian community are affiliated to the Indian Culture Centre  (ICC), ·         indian cinema is popular in Qatar.  There are a number of theatres that play Indian movies throughout the year.  The 4th edition of DohaTribeca Film Festival held in Doha late last year  opened with Mira Nair’s ‘The Reluctant Fundamentalist’.	·         Since 3000 BCE when dubai was hub of malabar trade ·
Political	·	·
Social	·         a majority of the Indian community continues to be  engaged in unskilled and semi-skilled work and, therefore, belong to the low or lower-middle income groups, for the last few years, an increasing number of Indian nationals have been engaged in professional jobs as doctors, engineers, chartered accountants, bankers, etc.The number of Indians who have established themselves as entrepreneurs is small, but they are affluent.  Separate figures for male and female employees are not available. ·         indian Community Benevolent Forum (ICBF), Indian Cultural Centre (ICC) and Indian Business and Professional Network.  These organizations work in close coordination with the Embassy and  represent the community well	·         the largest migrant group in the country ·         1st GCC state to provide aid through ADFAED(abudhabi fund for economic development ) ·         the Indian Workers Resource Centre (IWRC) in Dubai which is a free, walk-in resource centre providing Indian workers, especially semi-skilled and unskilled labourers, direct access to welfare services in the United Arab Emirates
Economical	·         synergy in the hydrocarbon ·         A number of Indian banks – State Bank of India, Canara Bank, Syndicate Bank, Bank of India, ICICI Bank – are operating in Qatar.no retail banking is allowed ·         Largest LNG supplier to india	·         People-to-people contacts and barter trade for clothes and spices from India in exchange for dates and pearls from the region have existed for centuries ·         the UAE, which is India's top trading partner in the entire West Asia North Africa (WANA) region ·         highest import-export trade among GCC countries ·         the hamriyah free zone to explore oversea operations
SnT	·         joint venture to be set up in Mesaieed Industrial area between Qatar Industrial Manufacturing Company (QIMC) and KLJ Organic Limited to manufacture Chlorinated Paraffin Wax along with caustic soda, hydrochloric acid, calcium chloride and sodium hypochlorite as by-products and co-products, purchase of majority stakes of Indian basmati rice seller Bush Foods Overseas  by Hassad Food of Qatar ·         joint maritime security and training	·         invest in agriculture ·

	Oman	Bahrain
Historical/Cultural	·         trade in the Roman and pre- Islamic times.(Indus valley civilization) ·         Tipu Sultan sent a diplomatic delegation to Oman during his reign. ·         Sultan Taimur spent more than 30 years in the Indian commercial capital Mumbai till his death in 1965 and he was buried there	·         Poet Ebrahim Al-Arrayedh grew up in Bombay, while 17th century Bahraini theologians Sheikh Salih Al-Karzakani and Sheikh Ja`far bin Kamal al-Din were influential figures in the Kingdom of Golkonda ·         Pearl industry role during medieval regime
Political	·         Embassy in muscat ·         first Ambassador of India arrived in Muscat in 1973 ·         supportive of India on  issues such as Kashmir ·         it supports India's bid for permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council.	·         Close ally ·         Politically, it is easier for Bahrain’s politicians to seek training and advice from India ·
Social	·         large Indian expatriate community ·         number of PIO got omani nationality	·         the Bahrain India Society was launched in Manama ·         extradition treaty
Economical	·         Trade with Gujarat and Malabar coast ·         joint ventures in sectors including fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, energy and engineering.[10] The Oman-India Fertiliser Company (OMIFCO) plant at Sur in Oman and the Bharat-Oman Oil Refinery at Bina have been set up as joint ventures between Indian public sector companies and Oman Oil Company ·         India has been considering the construction of a 1,100-km-long underwater gas pipeline from Oman for transporting natural gas. Called the South Asia Gas Enterprise (SAGE), it will act as an alternative to the Iran-Pakistan-India pipeline.	·         Many Indian companies
Defence relation	·         Oman is the first Gulf nation to have formaliseddefence relations with India. ·         The Indian Air Force has also been holding biannual joint exercises with the Royal Air Force of Oman since 2009.	·         Keen in IT sector ·         MoU between electronics and computer software( ESC) and Bahrain economic development board (EDB)

Some concerns with GCC countries:

Concerns which can be improved

·         Relationship with Pakistan(kashmir support) ·         Soviet Relations with india ·         India’s neutral stance during gulf war ·         Labour problems(social agreements) ·         Security in Gulf region(energy) ·         Internal matters ·         Terrorism ·         Anit-piracy issue ·         India’s Entry to OIC ·         Visa Relaxations ·         Soft power ·         Military co-operation ·         Strategic issues(UNSC) ·         Protecting interest of diaspora

 written by  :RamanBhattad