India’s Modi visits Greece, the first visit to the country by an Indian prime minister in 40 years

The prime ministers of India and Greece pledged to enhance their international locations’ commerce, enterprise and protection ties Friday throughout a visit to Athens by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi’s visit is the first to Greece by an Indian prime minister in 40 years since Indira Gandhi visited the country in September 1983.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis mentioned the two international locations loved relations stretching again to antiquity.

“Based mostly on these sturdy foundations of our long-term relations, we now have the nice pleasure of upgrading our cooperation now to a strategic relationship,” Mitsotakis mentioned in a joint televised assertion distributed by Greece’s state broadcaster.

Reporters weren’t permitted to attend, and no questions had been taken.

Modi mentioned the two determined to reinforce bilateral relations in the protection and safety sectors, in addition to in infrastructure, agriculture, schooling and know-how.

“In the sector of protection and safety, we agreed to reinforce our navy ties and our protection industries,” Modi mentioned, in accordance to a Greek translation of his feedback.

The 2 international locations may also intention to double bilateral commerce by 2030, Modi mentioned. Business commerce between India and Greece stood at 1.32 billion euros in 2022, Mitsotakis mentioned in an article for the Occasions of India launched by his workplace Friday.

Modi mentioned the two international locations signed an settlement Friday concerning agricultural manufacturing that may also permit for cooperation in analysis, animal rearing and animal merchandise.

India and Greece additionally need to facilitate expert migration, “so we determined that an settlement might be signed quickly on mobility and migration,” Modi mentioned.

The 2 additionally mentioned “the nice significance” of building direct flights between Greece and India, Mitsotakis mentioned, noting “nice alternatives” in the sectors of tourism in addition to financial cooperation in the pharmaceutical and know-how sectors.