Bratislava, April 9 — President Droupadi Murmu arrived in Bratislava in the early hours of Wednesday, marking a historic moment as only the second Indian Head of State to visit the Slovak Republic. Her visit forms the second leg of her ongoing two-nation State tour, following a successful trip to Portugal.
After concluding engagements in Lisbon, President Murmu landed in Vienna and then traveled by road to the Slovak capital, where she is set to spend two days.
High-Level Bilateral Meetings on the Agenda
During her stay, President Murmu will engage in high-level discussions with Slovak leaders, including President Peter Pellegrini, Prime Minister Robert Fico, and National Council Speaker Richard Raši. These talks are expected to further strengthen the growing diplomatic and strategic partnership between the two nations.The last Indian Presidential visit to Slovakia was nearly three decades ago, underlining the significance of this high-level diplomatic outreach.
Cultural and Strategic Connections
Speaking at a media briefing on April 4, External Affairs Ministry Secretary (West) Tanmaya Lal highlighted the deep-rooted ties between India and Slovakia, particularly in the fields of culture and education. “There are deep connections, especially with Sanskrit studies in Slovakia. Mahatma Gandhi's works have been translated into Slovak,” he said.Lal also acknowledged Slovakia’s support during the 2022 evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine, emphasizing the country’s role as a reliable partner in times of crisis.
Boost to Economic and Industrial Relations
One of the major highlights of President Murmu’s visit will be her tour of the Tata Motors-owned Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) manufacturing facility in Nitra. The state-of-the-art plant, inaugurated in 2018 with an investment of €1.4 billion, can produce up to 150,000 vehicles annually and symbolizes the strong industrial collaboration between India and Slovakia.“There is a strong political momentum with Slovakia. At the same time, business engagement is growing — from automobiles and engineering to IT,” Lal noted.
A Key Player in the India-EU Strategic Framework
Slovakia, a member of the European Union, joined the bloc around the same time India and the EU launched their strategic partnership. This historical alignment adds further weight to the bilateral relationship in the broader context of India-EU cooperation.India and Slovakia also share long-standing defense ties and continue to exchange business delegations to explore investment opportunities across various sectors.
President Murmu's visit to Slovakia follows her productive engagements in Portugal, where she met with top leadership and the Indian diaspora, reinforcing India’s commitment to fostering strong international partnerships.
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