Yemen & India: A historic connection [Archives:2007/1082/Last Page]
Mohammed bin Sallam
Connected by trading and commercial interests, the relationship between Yemen and India dates back thousands of years and has remained strong into the present-day. Harbors in both countries have provided a gateway through which Yemenis and Indians immigrate and establish thriving communities. More than 150,000 Indian citizens residing in India are of Yemeni origin and many Yemenis have Indian roots.
When the revolution broke out in Northern Yemen, India was one of the first countries to intervene and provide assistance. Additionally, when the south of Yemen freed itself from British colonialism, India hurriedly established relations with the south and supported the Yemeni people in various developmental fields.
Yemeni-Indian relations were strengthened through the establishment of various organizations and programs. The Joint Ministerial Committee, founded in 1993 by the two countries, held many meetings in both Sana'a and New Delhi, cooperating in forging developments in the commercial, industrial, agricultural, medical, cultural and scientific fields. India also assisted Yemen in the establishment of the country's parliament.
Indian investment companies are heavily involved in Yemen's oil and gas sector, including the expansion of Aden and Marib refineries and the building of petrochemical factories. An Indian company is currently working on establishing Ra's Isa refinery, aiming to clear 60,000 barrels of oil in its first stage, and then increasing to 85,000 barrels during the second stage.
Frequent exchange of visits between higher-ups of both countries is evidence of continued good relations and cooperation in several fields, especially the oil, gas, minerals, education and training sectors.
Republic of India
India is located in southern Asia. It is bordered by Pakistan and Afghanistan to the northwest; China, Nepal and Bhutan to the north; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east.
Across the Indian Ocean, India's neighbors include Maldives islands to the southwest and Sri Lanka and Indonesia to the southeast. Globally, India has the second-largest population, estimated at 1.136 billion and contains approximately one-sixth of the world's population.
Some of the oldest civilizations originated in India and the country has been an important center of trading throughout the ages. The predominant religion in India is Hinduism (80.5 percent of the population), however, the country is home to the third largest Muslim population (13.4 percent in 2001) and also includes Zoroastrians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and even a small percentage of Christians and Jews.
India was a British colony before gaining independence in 1947. As a result of this colonization, English is considered the language of trade, politics and the literate classes. However, there are over 216 languages spoken in India, the most prevalent being Hindi, followed by Bengali.
India's ethnic and religious diversity have left an indelible mark on the cultural landscape of Yemen.
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