 "Both countries signed agreements in the presence of PM Modi and Croatian PM Andrej Plenkovic in Zagreb. Image/X/@MEAIndia")
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has concluded his trip to Croatia, with India signing four key agreements with the European country. PM Modi’s trip to the Balkan nation was significant as he was the first Indian prime minister to pay an official visit to Croatia. At the same time, the visit took place at a time when the situation in West Asia is precarious.
During his visit, PM Modi held a series of meetings with Croatian counterpart Andrej Plenkovic in Zagreb, who oversaw the signing of multiple agreements aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) signed by both countries cover:
Agriculture and allied sectors
A program of cooperation in science and technology
A cultural exchange program
An agreement on the Hindi Chair at the University of Zagreb to promote the Indian language and culture
Addressing a special press briefing on PM Modi’s visit to Croatia, MEA Secretary (West) Tanmay Lal said, “The two leaders then welcome the signing of four documents. These are MoUs on cooperation in agriculture and allied sectors, a program of cooperation in science and technology, a cultural exchange program and an MoU on Hindi Chair at the University of Zagreb.”
“The leaders in their discussions also look forward to an early conclusion of the India-EU FTA, which will boost bilateral trade and supply chain resilience,” he added.
The leaders also agreed to strengthen the India-Croatia Startup Bridge Initiative, promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. Building upon the MoU signed two years ago, the leaders agreed to explore increased collaboration in defence. They agreed to formulate a long-term Defence Cooperation Plan, focusing on training, military exchange, and defence industry collaboration.
The India-Croatia Startup Bridge, initiated in 2021, and a collaborative Startup Challenge in 2022 have encouraged entrepreneurial cooperation in fields such as AI, green tech, and robotics.
With inputs from agencies