Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on a visit to Slovakia after concluding his France trip, met Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico in Bratislava to discuss bilateral ties and future cooperation.
Speaking to reporters, Modi thanked Fico for the reception and called the meeting a historic moment, noting it was the first visit to Slovakia by an Indian Prime Minister. He said both sides discussed giving fresh direction and momentum to cooperation, and expressed satisfaction over progress in trade and economic engagement.
Modi said India and Slovakia were focusing on sectors such as automobiles, railways, advanced manufacturing and green energy, and that decisions were taken with benefits for people in both countries. He also thanked Fico for his role in advancing the India–European Union free trade agreement and said efforts would be made to implement it soon to benefit industry, startups and traders.
Highlighting technology as central to future collaboration, Modi said a memorandum of understanding signed on digital technology would open new opportunities in digital infrastructure. He also welcomed the plan to establish an India chair on artificial intelligence at a Slovak university.
On space cooperation, Modi said India was reaching new heights at an unprecedented pace and invited Slovak companies to participate in the growth of India’s space sector. He added that both countries were prioritising civil nuclear energy and expressed happiness over signing an MoU in the field, saying it would provide fresh impetus for joint development, joint production and cooperation in the defence industry.
Fico said India and Slovakia were connected by many common factors and congratulated India on its achievements. He noted India’s economic rise and said the India–EU agreement was among the most ambitious trade deals, adding that Slovakia would take steps to support its implementation.
