"Hope ties between two countries will further strengthen": Lulu Group Chairman Yusuf Ali on PM Modi's Saudi visit
Jeddah: On the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Saudi Arabia, Lulu Group International Chairman, Yusuf Ali expressed delight on behalf of the business community and said that the visit by the Prime Minister would boost the bonhomie between the two leaders, thereby strengthening the ties further.
The Prime Minister was on an official visit to the Kingdom at the invitation of the Crown Prince and the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman.
While speaking to ANI, Yusuf Ali said, "We, the business community, are very happy and as our country is going to become a USD 5 trillion economy, Saudi Arabia will contribute a lot to the growth of our country."
He added, "The relations between the two countries will further strengthen and the personal relation between the two leaders and the leadership is great and we hope the relation between the two countries will further strengthen".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi landed in Jeddah on Tuesday for a two-day State visit to Saudi Arabia. Upon his arrival in the country, he interacted jovially with the members of the Indian community.
Upon his arrival in Saudi Arabia, the Prime Minister was welcomed with a ceremonial 21-gun salute and was received by the top brass. In a special gesture of honour, PM Modi's aircraft was escorted by Royal Saudi Air Force fighter jets as it entered Saudi airspace.
PM Narendra Modi, along with Crown Prince and the PM of Saudi Arabia, Prince Mohammed bin Salman, will co-chair the second Leaders' Meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council during his visit to the country.
Since 2014, PM Modi has transformed the trajectory of India's relations with Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries.
In an interview with Arab News ahead of his visit to the Kingdom, PM Modi had praised the "limitless potential" of India's growing ties with Saudi Arabia. "In a world full of uncertainties, our bond stands strong as a pillar of stability." He praised Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman's leadership, calling him "a strong advocate of our bilateral ties" and a visionary who has inspired global admiration through the reforms under Vision 2030.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Times of Oman
5 hours ago
- Times of Oman
Indian PM Modi, Cyprus President Christodoulides attend Business Roundtable in Limassol
Limassol: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, attended a business roundtable event on Sunday. Upon his visit to the country, President Christodoulides called PM Modi's visit historic and "a new chapter in a strategic partnership that knows no limits." Earlier in the day, while sharing the events that PM Modi will attend, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "Our ties with Cyprus are historic, warm, and enduring. Today, on arrival at the airport, he was received by the President of Cyprus. This is reflective of how strong our ties are. This was a special gesture from the Cyprus side." He said the business roundtable would discuss ideas for strengthening the India-Cyprus business partnership. Notably, MEA Spokesperson Jaiswal said that the business partnership would explore newer areas of engagement such as "data, innovation, digital payments, shipbuilding, ports". Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday received a heartfelt welcome from the Indian diaspora in Limassol, as he arrived in Cyprus as part of his three-nation tour. PM Modi was seen being greeted by the diaspora with bouquets as he arrived at his hotel and the Prime Minister also engaged with the diaspora, exchanging greetings and acknowledging their support. In a post on X, Prime Minister Modi thanked the Indian community for their affection. He wrote, "I thank the Indian community for the affection. India will keep working to deepen ties with Cyprus in the times to come." He also shared the highlights of the day in a post on X. cbr />In a post on X, the President of Cyprus too extended a warm welcome to PM Modi. Calling it a "historic visit", he said that the visit would see a new chapter in the India-Cyprus partnership. "Welcome to Cyprus Prime Minister @narendramodi! Here, at the EU's southeastern frontier and gateway of the Mediteranean. A historic visit, A new chapter in a strategic partnership that knows no limits. We make a promise to advance, transform, prosper more. Together Cyprus-India-EU" EAM Jaishankar upon arrival in Lacarna, met the Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos and underscored how the visit by PM Modi would deepen the lonstanding bilateral ties. He wrote on X, "Delighted to meet FM @ckombos of Cyprus on my arrival at Larnaca. Confident that PM @narendramodi's visit to Cyprus will deepen our longstanding bilateral ties and the India - EU partnership." PM Modi, accompanied by a large delegation of around 100 officials, is visiting Cyprus at the invitation of President Nicos Christodoulides. The visit holds significance as Cyprus has been a consistent supporter of India's positions on Kashmir, cross-border terrorism, and reforms in the United Nations Security Council. Cyprus takes over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union from January 1. The visit will reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India's engagement with the Mediterranean region and the European Modi's visit follows an invitation extended to him by Christodoulides and comes eight years after then-President Nicos Anastasiades visited India.
Observer
16 hours ago
- Observer
Passenger traffic at Oman's airports reaches 4.7 million
MUSCAT: Passenger traffic across the Sultanate of Oman's airports reached just over 4.7 million by the end of April 2025, representing a 4.1% decline compared to the same period in 2024, according to preliminary data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI). Muscat International Airport handled 4,222,789 passengers during the first four months of the year, down 4.7% from 4,428,726 recorded in the corresponding period of 2024. The number of flights also fell sharply, totalling 29,731, an 8.6% decline from 32,520 flights during the same period last year. In contrast, Salalah Airport posted positive growth, registering a 6.8% rise in passenger numbers to 458,394, up from 429,181 a year earlier. However, the number of flights dipped marginally by 0.2% to 2,974, compared to 2,980 last year. Sohar Airport saw a dramatic contraction in activity. Passenger numbers plunged by 98.7% to just 307, compared to 23,842 in the same period of 2024. The number of flights also declined sharply, falling by 62.5% to 72 flights. At Duqm Airport, both passenger and flight numbers saw slight decreases. Passenger traffic dropped by 2.7% to 19,565, while flight movements edged down by 1.9% to 204. As for passenger nationalities at Muscat International Airport in April 2025, Indian nationals topped the list with 182,628 passengers, comprising 99,163 arrivals and 83,465 departures. Omanis followed with a total of 101,087 (45,072 arriving and 56,015 departing), while Pakistani nationals accounted for 47,078 passengers (25,426 arriving and 21,652 departing). — ONA
Observer
16 hours ago
- Observer
Work-life balance: myth or reality?
The dynamic business landscape, emerging work patterns, job insecurity, the pressure of automation, the threat of artificial intelligence, and workplace competitiveness have blurred the lines between work and life for millions of professionals globally. While 60% of employees worldwide report having a healthy work-life balance, burnout remains widespread, with 82% of workers at risk and rates continuing to rise. Many professionals scorn, ridicule, and perceive the work-life balance as non-existent. There are two opposing schools of thought on this global dilemma of the workplace cauldron. One perspective stems from the belief that work-life balance is an unattainable myth. It states that work and life are deeply intertwined, exacerbated by the flux of work patterns and artificial intelligence. The second perspective is that work-life imbalance is a reality, and it can be resolved with leader interventions, policy shifts, and attitudinal transformations. Work-life balance is at the core of the sustainable future of work and organizational productivity. While burnout is a global phenomenon prevalent across all sectors, the healthcare, technology/IT, finance, and education sectors are at higher risk due to demand for long hours, high emotional calls, and chronic understaffing, which are some burnout drivers. In most European countries, work weeks are shorter, vacation policies are more generous, and there is a stronger emphasis on leisure and family time. Many of these countries are ranked higher for their work-life balance. Many European countries have also enacted legislative rules and laws granting employees the right to disconnect from work outside official working hours. France, Belgium, Portugal, Italy, Iceland, Greece, Cyprus, Slovenia, and Slovakia have laws that protect employees' mental health and promote a culture of work-life balance. In the Middle East, the burnout rate is lower at 43%. In contrast, Asian countries like India, China, Japan, and South Korea often prioritize long working hours and dedication to work. India reports 62% burnout, which is 3 times the global average. China stands at 58% with a "996 culture" from 9 am to 9 pm, six days a week. Recently, a leading Indian IT business leader, Narayan Murthy, has been criticized and shunned by the public and media for their outrageous suggestion that a 70-hour working week is necessary for Indian global competitiveness. Leaders also released similar comments from other industries, like L&T leader SN Subramanyam, who suggested employees work 90 hours per week, which sparked outrage and criticism from professionals and leaders across all walks of life. These are signs of burnout, mental health risks, and productivity decline. Japan was traditionally known for a culture of workaholism. Traditionally, Japan was known for this approach of "live to work" national culture and "Karoshi," which means death by work. However, Japan has embraced the "work to live" culture since a decade and is making significant policy and national behavior changes to maintain a healthy work-life balance. This cultural shift in Japan is driven by younger generations who prioritize life over work. Australia and New Zealand were traditionally recognized for work-life balance due to their job climate, security, annual leave, and focus on well-being. However, recent assessments indicate that both countries face deteriorating work-life balance and increasingly toxic work environments. Intriguingly, the US also struggles with work-life balance: 66% report officially having difficulty, and 77% of the working population experience burnout. Similarly,79% to 92% of UK workers have experienced burnout at some point in their careers. Work-life balance is complex, evolving, and intensely influenced by nations, technology, and individual perceptions. Whether the readers believe it is a myth or a reality, the world needs to move toward a balanced work-life synchronization for the sustainability and well-being of humankind.
