Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a one-day official visit to Saudi Arabia and reached the country in the early hours of Tuesday.

After landing in Riyadh PM Modi said that the visit marks the start of an important visit aimed at strengthening ties with a valued friend. He added that he will be taking part in a wide range of programmes during this visit. "Landed in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, marking the start of an important visit aimed at strengthening ties with a valued friend.Will be taking part in a wide range of programmes during this visit," PM Modi tweeted.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson RaveeshKumar tweeted, "PM @narendramodi extended a ceremonial welcome on arrival& greeted by the Governor of Riyadh HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar Al Saud onhis one-day trip to Saudi Arabia. Both countries have entered an exciting phaseof expanding the historical India-Saudi ties."

During his visit to oil-rich Gulf nation, PM Modi will inkan agreement with Riyadh aimed at setting up the Strategic Partnership Councilto elevate the ties between the two countries to a new level. The primeminister is also scheduled to attend the Plenary Session of the Third FutureInvestment Initiative Forum being held in Riyadh on Tuesday.

"PM @narendramodi emplanes for Riyadh to participate inthe 3rd @FIIKSA Forum on an invitation of HM @KingSalman. Coupled with a strongbilateral component, the visit will strengthen a relationship that goes backcenturies," Kumar had tweeted.

Before embarking on his visit to Saudi Arabia, PM Modi hadsaid in a statement that he is visiting the Kingdom at the invitation of SaudiKing Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud. During his visit, PM Modi is set to meet theSaudi King and he will also talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman onmatters of bilateral cooperation. "India and Saudi Arabia have enjoyedtraditionally close and friendly relations. Saudi Arabia has been one of thelargest and reliable suppliers of India`s energy needs," PM Modi had saidin the statement.

"The Crown Prince during his visit to New Delhi inFebruary 2019 committed to invest over US$100 billion in sectors of priority inIndia. Defence, security, trade, culture, education and people-to-peoplecontacts are the other important areas of bilateral cooperation with SaudiArabia," he had added.

PM Modi will also address the Future Investment InitiativeForum and it is learnt that in his address the prime minister will speak aboutthe growing trade and investment opportunities for the global investors inIndia as the nation targets to become a USD 5 trillion economy by 2024.

It is expected that some major energy deals would also befinalised during PM Modi's visit, including the West Coast Refinery Project andfor India's Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) Programme.

India and Saudi Arabia are also likely to ink an agreementover the USD 44 billion West Coast Refinery Project in Maharashtra. The twocountries may also finalise a deal on the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve(SPR) Programme.