Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday embarked on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia with the focus on energy, defence and security, the launching of RuPay card in the kingdom and a speech at the third Future Investment Initiative Forum, also known as the "Davos of the desert".

In his departure statement, Modi said, "India and Saudi Arabia have enjoyed traditionally close and friendly relations. Saudi Arabia has been one of the largest and reliable suppliers of India’s energy needs."

Modi will be addressing the Future Investment Initiative Forum, which is part of the King's vision 2030 to make Saudi a more diversified economy at 8pm on Tuesday. At the forum meet, PM will, "speak about the growing trade and investment opportunities for the global investors in India as the country marches forward to a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024.", the statement said.

Modi will hold a bilateral meeting with King Salman of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday and separate delegation-level talks with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Both sides will be signing the Strategic Partnership Council --SPC MoU--which will be headed by PM Modi and crown prince and have two verticals at foreign minister level and trade ministers level. Under vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has selected eight countries -- India, China, UK, US, France, Germany, South Korea and Japan -- for forging a strategic partnership which was agreed in February this year and aims to monitor the Strategic partnership between both countries.