Bratislava, June 14: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a two-day official visit to Slovakia. This marks the first bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country. In a special interview, India’s Ambassador to Slovakia, Apurva Srivastava, described PM Modi’s trip as a significant milestone. Discussions are underway regarding comprehensive agreements on defense cooperation between the two nations.
Ambassador Srivastava stated, “This visit will not only strengthen our political ties but also enhance our economic, defense, and people-to-people connections. New dimensions of collaboration in quantum technology, AI, and education will emerge. Given this context, the trip is extremely important.”
She noted that economic relations between India and Slovakia have rapidly grown over the past two to three years. In 2024, the economic figure surpassed 1 billion euros for the first time, increasing to 1.6 billion euros in 2025, with significant potential for further growth. The two countries engage in trade in traditional sectors such as automobiles, engineering, and mobile technology, but the opportunities extend far beyond. Slovakia is advanced in the automobile sector, with Tata Motors’ Jaguar Land Rover investing in the region. Defense relations could also see substantial advancements, along with opportunities in green water technology.
The ambassador mentioned that PM Modi will meet with CEOs of several key Slovak companies. Many Slovak firms have already invested in India. For instance, Tatra Vagonka Poprad has announced investments in Odisha, and the NVN Group operates a bioethanol fuel plant in Uttar Pradesh. Numerous Slovak companies are keen to invest in India. Over the past three years, around five major business groups have visited to explore ways to enhance business relations with India.
Regarding defense cooperation, Apurva Srivastava emphasized, “There are significant possibilities for collaboration in the defense sector. Historically, when Czechoslovakia existed, defense cooperation was robust. Currently, there is ongoing collaboration between several companies from India and Slovakia. We also have the India-Slovakia Defense Agreement from 1995 at the policy level. Additionally, we are discussing a comprehensive agreement, and some announcements related to it may occur during this visit.”
On Slovakia’s potential as a key partner in India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative, the ambassador remarked, “Slovakia can be a valuable partner in the Make in India initiative. Several companies have already invested in India and are contributing to this initiative. Grand Power has recently launched new operations in Coimbatore in the defense sector. There is enthusiasm among the business community. After meeting with PM Modi, we expect that other CEOs will be encouraged to invest in India, further enhancing the Make in India initiative.”
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