India, Saudi Arabia Explore Deeper Chemicals, Petrochem Ties

• India and Saudi Arabia to boost collaboration in chemicals and petrochemicals sector
• $41.88 billion trade ties to leverage Saudi petrochemical strength and India’s speciality chemicals growth
• Plans for PCPIR investments, joint R&D, and workforce training

Recently,  India and Saudi Arabia organized a high-level bilateral meeting to further cooperation in the chemicals and petrochemicals industry, concentrating on investment, research, and skill development prospects. Both nations are strengthening bilateral trade and industrial cooperation through enhanced engagement in the chemicals sector and petrochemicals.

The meeting was led by the Secretary of the Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers), Nivedita Shukla Verma, and Khalil bin Ibrahim bin Salamah, Vice Minister of Industry and Minerals, Saudi Arabia.

In 2024–25, the total trade between the two countries amounted to $41.88 billion, with the chemicals and petrochemicals sector contributing nearly 10 percent, or $4.5 billion, to that total. India ranks fourth among Saudi Arabia’s trading partners, while Saudi Arabia ranks second among India’s trading partners. This energy partnership aims to boost the chemical industry India, foster petrochemical collaboration, and deepen India-Saudi relations in trade and investment.

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In the course of the talks, both parties recognized the complementary characteristics of their respective industries—Saudi Arabia’s excellence in petrochemicals and India’s rapidly growing specialty chemicals sector. They then made a commitment to the cooperation which would be utilitarian in the realization of these enhancements and the forming of a more consolidated value chain.

The main points of cooperation were potential investments in India’s Petroleum, Chemical and Petrochemical Investment Regions (PCPIRs), and strategic alliances between prominent industrial players from the two countries. Besides, the two partners placed major importance on the joint research and development initiatives and skill development programs with the aim of providing a qualified workforce for future.

Declaring their alliance a sustainable and mutually profitable one, India and Saudi Arabia highlighted the strategic relevance of this partnership in the scenario of strengthening their long-term economic and industrial ties within the global chemicals and petrochemicals market.