Greek PM's India Visit After 16 Years a Historic Occasion; Bilateral Trade Will Double By 2030: PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis to India on Wednesday, hailing it as a “historic occasion.” During a bilateral meeting here at the Hyderabad House, the two leaders reviewed bilateral ties and discussed deepening partnerships in areas of defence and security, as well as trade and investment.

“Giving further impetus to India-Greece Strategic Partnership! PM @narendramodi & PM @kmitsotakis of the Hellenic Republic held productive discussions at Hyderabad House,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal wrote on X. Speaking at a joint press conference, PM Modi said, “I am happy to welcome PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his delegation to India…The visit of the Greek PM to India after 16 years is a historic occasion. It’s a matter of happiness that we are heading towards doubling the bilateral trade by 2030…”

Accompanied by senior officials and a high-powered business delegation, Mitsotakis is on a two-day State visit to India. This is the first bilateral Head of State/Government level visit from Greece to India after 15 years. The last Prime Ministerial visit from Greece to India took place in 2008. PM Modi visited Athens on August 25, 2023.

PM Modi said the increasing cooperation in defence and security reflects deep mutual trust between India and Greece. He highlighted the collaboration in areas such as cybersecurity, counter-terrorism, and maritime security. During the press conference, the Prime Minister also stressed the importance of cooperation in fighting terrorism, noting, “In the fight against terrorism, India and Greece have the same concerns and priorities.”

At the joint press conference, the Greek PM said “…The world today is facing unprecedented challenges that require immediate and efficient action from the ongoing war in Ukraine to the situation in the Middle East – from climate change to food and energy security. “One thing is certain in order for governments to tackle them, international partnerships and collective action is paramount and India has a critical role to play in this. We view India as one of the main pillars of stability and security in the wider region of Indo Pacific,” he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

Earlier today, the Greek PM was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan. India-Greece relations have been elevated to ‘Strategic Partnership’ during PM Modi’s visit to Greece in August 2023. In an earlier release, the Ministry of External Affairs said the two countries have also been cooperating closely in various multilateral forums. Later today, Mitsotakis attend the 9th Raisina Dialogue as the Chief Guest, where he will give a keynote address.