Bratislava: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held delegation-level talks with his Slovak counterpart Prime Minister Robert Fico on June 15, Monday during his visit to Slovakia, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the European nation. The discussions between the two leaders reflected the growing momentum in India-Slovakia relations, with both sides expressing a desire to deepen cooperation across defence, trade, workforce mobility and international affairs.
During the discussions, Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico lauded India’s rapid economic growth, digital transformation and advances in artificial intelligence, saying the country has outpaced many advanced nations in key sectors. Prim Minister Fico said that Slovakia and India are linked by several common interests and expressed admiration for India’s achievements across multiple fields.
“It is a great honour for me to welcome the PM of the country with the largest population in the world, but at the same time a country which is the fifth biggest economy in the world and it has the ambition to be the third biggest economy in the world”, Slovakia PM exclaimed.
Drawing a comparison with Europe, Fico noted that the European Union(EU) continues to face economic challenges and suggested that India’s growth trajectory offers valuable lessons.”We are struggling in the EU. What could the EU do if we could achieve 6-7 per cent growth?” PM Fico remarked.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also thanked his Slovakian counterpart Robert Fico for his support in finalising the historic India-European Free Trade Agreement (FTA). PM Modi affirmed committment to ensuring early implementation of the FTA in order to help the two countries, their industries, startups and traders, avail “maximum benefits”.
PM Modi also hailed the growth in bilateral trade and economic cooperation, reflecting on the potential for further growth. He stated that the leaders discussed combining their strengths in various fields and redirecting their cooperation. “Today, the Prime Minister and I discussed in detail how to give a new direction and new energy to our cooperation. Our potential is vast. Our aspirations are even greater”, PM Modi said.
“Automobiles, railways, advanced manufacturing and green technology are areas of special interest to us. Today, we combined our strengths in all these areas and took several important decisions for the benefit of the people of both countries”, PM Modi further added.
Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico also strongly endorsed the FTA, calling it one of the most “ambitious” trade deals ever negotiated and pledged Slovakia’s full support for its swift implementation. He said that the agreement would create significant economic opportunities for both sides and bring tangible benefits to Slovakia’s export-oriented industries.
Highlighting the importance of the automotive sector to the Slovak economy, PM Fico pointed to reduced tariffs on automobiles as a major advantage of the deal. The Slovak leader also extended an open invitation to Indian businesses to invest in Slovakia, stressing the country’s political stability, business-friendly environment and commitment to supporting foreign investors.
India and Slovakia signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on defence cooperation aimed at boosting joint development, joint production and collaboration between the defence industries of the two countries, marking a significant step in strengthening bilateral strategic ties.
Highlighting the growing strategic partnership between the two nations, PM Modi said that the cooperation in defence was a “testament” to a high level of mutual confidence and common strategic vision. “Our defence cooperation is a testament to our deep mutual trust and strategic convergence”, PM Modi reiterated.
Prime Minister Fico also expressed his interest in collaboration in the field of defence. Defence cooperation is expected to open new avenues for collaboration in defence manufacturing and technology, further strengthening the strategic partnership between India and Slovakia.
He further expressed interest in expanding cooperation through public-private partnerships (PPP), saying such initiatives would be warmly welcomed by his government.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi also announced an MoU on labour migration, adding that an MoU on social security will be finalised soon. PM Modi said that the agreement will help enhance the mobility of professionals and skilled workers, lauding it as a step towards “close coordination” on the global platform.
Shedding light on the MoU on digital technology, the PM said that it will create new possibilities for cooperation between the two countries in “digital public infrastructure”. He further expressed gratitude towards the establishment of an “India Chair on AI” at a Slovakian University.
“Technology is a key pillar of our future partnership. The MoU signed today on digital technology will open up new possibilities for cooperation in digital public infrastructure. I am delighted that an India Chair on AI is being established at a Slovakian university”, PM Modi said.
India and Slovakia announced the establishment of a Joint-Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, while also condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including cross-border terrorism. The leaders unequivocally condemned the “heinous terrorist attack perpetrated in Pahalgam and agreed to deepen cooperation in combating terrorism.
Calling for a united global response, the leaders stressed the need for “concerted international efforts to combat terrorism in a comprehensive and sustained manner and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral and multilateral cooperation in counter-terrorism, including within the framework of the United Nations (UN).
The statement emphasised the need for “strong and decisive action against terrorists and terrorist entities, including those designated by the United Nations Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee, as well as their affiliates, proxies, sponsors, financiers and supporters”.
The two sides also underscored the importance of “holding perpetrators, organisers and sponsors of terrorist acts” accountable and agreed to work closely towards the early finalisation and adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) within the United Nations framework.
India and Slovakia also affirmed cooperation on “consular matters” and agreed to adopt a mechanism for regular consular consultations to ensure a smooth visa process, legal migration and safety of the citizens travelling between the two nations. The move follows a significant surge in the movement of students, IT professionals and skilled workers between New Delhi and Bratislava.
The decision to formalise consular talks closely aligns with a broader push for mobility, which also saw the exchange of MoU on labour migration and a commitment to finalise a mutual social security agreement. Prime Minister Modi visit to Slovakia thus sealed a new chapter in the bilateral ties.
(With Inputs from ANI)
