India and GCC Leaders to Hold AI and Energy Talks in Kochi

India and six GCC nations will meet in Kochi from November 18-20 for discussions on AI, energy, investment, logistics and strategic cooperation at the second Kochi Dialogue.

India will host the second edition of the Kochi Dialogue from November 18 to 20, 2026, bringing together diplomats, policymakers, business leaders and technology experts from India and the six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member countries to strengthen strategic and economic cooperation. The three-day conclave will take place in Kochi, Kerala, under the theme “Towards an Innovative and Integrated India-GCC Partnership: Resilience, Reinvention, Redefinition.”

Organised by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in collaboration with the Kochi-based Centre for Public Policy Research (CPPR), the forum will facilitate discussions on artificial intelligence, energy, investment, security, connectivity and logistics. Representatives from Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are expected to participate alongside Indian government officials and industry representatives.

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The 2026 edition will focus on expanding cooperation beyond conventional trade and energy relationships. Discussions will examine opportunities for stronger capital flows, investment partnerships, technology collaboration and institutional engagement. Other priority areas include healthcare, food security, maritime connectivity and innovation, reflecting the expanding scope of economic relations between India and the Gulf region.

According to the organisers, the dialogue aims to create opportunities for governments, businesses and institutions to identify shared priorities, address existing barriers and develop practical areas of cooperation. The discussions are also expected to support trade facilitation, encourage cross-border investments and strengthen strategic partnerships amid changing geopolitical and economic conditions.

The first edition of the Kochi Dialogue was held in January 2025, focusing primarily on trade and regulatory barriers. Building on that engagement, the upcoming edition will place greater emphasis on investment, energy security, regional stability, connectivity and emerging technologies.

India and the GCC share substantial economic and people-to-people connections. According to Arab News, bilateral trade between the two sides reached approximately $179 billion in the 2024-25 fiscal year, while cumulative GCC investments in India exceeded $21.14 billion as of September 2025. The Gulf region is also home to nearly 10 million Indians, with Kerala maintaining longstanding migration, commercial and cultural links with Gulf countries.

The growing importance of supply chain resilience, energy security and regional connectivity has further strengthened the case for deeper cooperation. Through the Kochi Dialogue 2026, India and GCC representatives aim to explore new avenues for economic engagement and build a more diversified partnership across traditional and emerging sectors.

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The event is organised by the MEA and CPPR, providing a platform for diplomatic engagement and business-level discussions between India and the Gulf region.