Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Greece on Friday for talks with the country’s top leadership to strengthen bilateral ties.
Modi arrived in Athens from South Africa, where he attended the 15th BRICS summit. His arrival in Greece follows the invitation of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Modi said, “I have the honor of being the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece after 40 years.”
first trip in 40 years
Prime Minister Modi will also interact with the Indian expatriate in Athens, which has a sizeable Indian population of 13,000-14,000.
Modi’s visit to Greece is the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 40 years. Indira Gandhi was the last Indian leader to visit the country in 1983.
Modi’s visit comes after External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s visit to Greece in 2021 and revival of ties between the two countries.
It was then that Greece signed the Framework Agreement for the International Solar Alliance and extended support to India on the Missile Technology Control Regime Agreement.
Prior to this, former Greek Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou had visited India thrice – in November 1984 for Indira Gandhi’s funeral, in January 1985 for a summit on nuclear disarmament, and in January 1986 at New Delhi. As the chief guest of the Republic Day celebrations.
Opportunity to upgrade old friendship, says Greek ambassador to India
Greece’s ambassador to India, Dimitrios Ioannou, said the two countries would upgrade their long-standing friendship during Modi’s visit.
Ioannou said, “We are very happy to welcome him. This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister after 40 years. During this visit, we will upgrade our long friendship…”
“We (India and Greece) are taking forward our cooperation in all important areas, including security, culture, trade, economy and technology. It is an important comprehensive partnership… We want India to be the gateway to Europe,” he said. Would like.” Our ports can be gateways for Indian products to enter European markets…”
Complete agenda of PM Modi
During his visit, Modi will meet his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis and President Katerina Sakellaropoulou.
He is also scheduled to interact with business leaders of both countries and interact with the Indian community in Greece.
He will then attend a business lunch hosted by the Greek PM. Modi will also lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Athens.