Updated, Feb. 21. 2024. 9.50 PM.
India and Greece have agreed to double their bilateral trade by the year 2030. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and visiting Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis today held bilateral and delegation level talks in New Delhi. During the meeting, both the countries deliberated on range of issues and expressed their commitment to enhance cooperation in the field of space, pharma, shipping, communication, defence, agriculture and maritime, and air connectivity.
Highlighting the importance of India-Greece relationship, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, new opportunities were explored during the meeting. He stressed that shipping and connectivity are the highest priority areas. He said, defence co-production and manufacturing can be fruitful for both the countries. Mr. Modi said, India and Greece have common concerns and priorities in the fight against terrorism and both the countries discussed ways to further strengthen their cooperation in this area.
Greece Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said, both the countries expressed their desire to continue to boost bilateral relationship, and upgrade it to strategic level. He said, both the countries talked to boost relationship in the areas of agriculture, tourism, cyber space among others. Later briefing the media, Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said, both the leaders emphasized on efforts to enhance co-operation in the area of migration and mobility. He said, they also discussed regional security threats and reinforced their commitment to build partnership in Indo-Pacific region. He said, they expressed concern on challenge of terrorism and condemned all its forms.
Mr Mitsotakis is on a four day state visit to India. He will be the Chief Guest and Keynote Speaker at the 9th Raisina Dialogue to be held from today till 23rd February in New Delhi. He will also visit Mumbai before returning to Athens.Earlier, Mr. Mitsotakis was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan this morning. He also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat.
This is the first bilateral Head of State or Government level visit from Greece to India after 15 years. The last Prime Ministerial visit from Greece to India took place in 2008.