At the request of his Greek counterpart, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi arrived in Greece on Friday, 25th August 2023, for the first time. Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis greeted Prime Minister Modi at the Athens International Airport. When he arrived at the Hotel Grande Bretagne, the Indian community had gathered there to give him a resounding welcome.
During Indian Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Athens on Friday, the prime leaders of India and Greece agreed to strengthen ties in commerce, business, and defence. According to Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the two nations have had cordial ties since antiquity.
Prime Minister Modi had a meeting with H.E. Ms. Katerina N. Sakellaropoulou, the President of Greece. The Prime Minister received congratulations from President Sakellaropoulou on the Chandrayaan mission’s accomplishment.
The shared ideals of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law were recalled by the two leaders. Additionally, they talked about issues pertaining to women-led development, sustainable development, India’s G20 chairmanship, and the improvement of India-Greece relations.
On the same day, Prime Minister Modi also had a meeting with H.E. Mr. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, the Prime Minister of Greece. Both one-on-one and delegation-level conversations between the two presidents took place. The topics discussed ranged from trade and investment to defence and security to technology, infrastructure, digital payments, shipping, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, migration and mobility, tourism, skill development, culture, and people-to-people ties. The EU, the Indo-Pacific, and the Mediterranean were some of the other multilateral and regional topics they discussed. Both parties concurred to upgrade their union to a “Strategic Partnership.”
The meeting and working lunch between Greek and Indian businesspeople, held in the presence of the two Prime Ministers, Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Narendra Modi, during the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Athens, confirmed the active interest of India’s business community in enhancing their relations and contacts with Greece. By 2030, Prime Minister Modi said, the two nations will also strive to increase their bilateral trade.
Leading Indian and Greek CEOs from a variety of industries, including shipping, infrastructure, and energy, among others, attended the event. In his remarks, Prime Minister Modi emphasised India’s advancements in sectors, including renewable energy, start-ups, pharmaceuticals, IT, digital payments, infrastructure, and many business-friendly policies undertaken to boost the business sector. He acknowledged the contribution made by these business titans to fostering closer ties between India and Greece and advancing economic cooperation. The prime minister urged businessmen to take advantage of investment possibilities in India and contribute to the country’s growth story.
On August 25, Indian Prime Minister Modi also had a meeting with Mr. Konstantinos Kalaitzis, a Greek musician and scholar and a friend of India. Mr. Konstantinos Kalaitzis’ love for India and enthusiasm for Indian music and dance were acknowledged by the Prime Minister. They talked about ways to spread awareness of Indian culture in Greece.
In honour of Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Athens, members of the Indian community were waving the tricolour, and some were even playing drums. At the Athens Conservatoire, Prime Minister Modi addressed the Indian community. The Prime Minister emphasised the Indian community’s role in improving the intricate connections between Greece and India and encouraged them to participate in India’s success story.
