Modi historic Croatia visit strengthens bilateral ties, India-EU Partnership

By Anjali Sharma

WASHINGTON – India Prime Minister Narendra Modi first-ever visit to Croatia on Wednesday has marked a significant milestone in the bilateral relations between the two nations and also Indi EU partnership.

Secretary West Tanmaya Lal said at a press briefing that the visit by the PM since diplomatic ties were established in 1992, aims to strengthen India-Croatia partnership and further boost the strategic partnership between India and the European Union.

Mr. Narendra Modi and his counterpart Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic held “wide-range of discussions on various aspects of the bilateral partnership.”

The visit reflects the growing momentum in India-Croatia relations, with high-level exchanges between the two countries increasing in recent years.

Modi and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković had met during COP26 in Glasgow, while former President Ram Nath Kovind visited Croatia in 2019.

External Affairs Minister Dr Jaishankar and Foreign Minister Gordan Radman have also met in 2023 and 2021, Mr Lal said.

During the visit, both leaders discussed ways to expand trade, investment, and innovation linkages.
Some of the areas where there are business linkages include enhancing collaboration in the tech sector, exploring opportunities for cooperation in the pharmaceutical industry, focusing on wind and solar power generation, strengthening ties in railway infrastructure development, increasing collaboration in defence production, including arms and unmanned vehicles, and enhancing supply chain resilience.

They welcomed the signing of four documents, including an MoU on cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, a programme of cooperation in science and technology, a cultural exchange programme, and an MoU on Hindi chair at the University of Zagreb which has been extended till 2030, and a new five-year cultural exchange programme has also been prepared.

The visit is expected to give a boost to the India-EU strategic partnership, with Croatia being the youngest member of the European Union.

Two leaders discussed the importance of concluding an India-EU Free Trade Agreement, which would enhance bilateral trade and supply chain resilience, Mr Lal said.

He asserted that the two leaders agreed to enhance collaboration in infrastructure, ports and shipping, digitalization, artificial intelligence, renewable energy, pharmaceuticals, tourism, and hospitality.

“Prime Minister Modi’s historic visit to Croatia, the first ever by an Indian Prime Minister to Croatia, will act as a catalyst to the expansion of India-Croatia partnership and further strengthen India-EU strategic partnership,” Mr, Lal said.

Croatian counterpart, Andrej Plenković, and Modi in a joint statement said India would share its space experience with Croatia and promote academic collaborations.

Modi said that Croatian companies would find opportunities in India’s port modernization and coastal zone development under the Sagarmala Project.

“Our centuries-old cultural relations are the root of mutual affection and goodwill. We have decided to give more strength to our cultural and people-to-people relations, ” Modi said.

He expressed gratitude to the Croatian government for the warm welcome and noted that both India and Croatia are guided by shared values such as democracy, pluralism, and the rule of law.

“It is a happy coincidence that the people of both India and Croatia have given us the opportunity to serve a third consecutive term,” he said.

Modi’s departure from Zagreb marks the conclusion of a successful three-nation tour to Cyprus, Canada, and Croatia, reflected a significant chapter in India’s diplomatic outreach.