New Delhi : PM Modi will arrive in Austria from Moscow on July 9 on the second leg of his two-nation visit. This will be the first visit of an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years. During his stay in Vienna, PM Modi will meet Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen and hold talks with Chancellor Nehammer. The two leaders will also address business leaders from India and Austria.
This relationship is 75 years old
India and Austria are completing 75 years of diplomatic relations. Before Modi's visit, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had visited Austria in 1971. Indira Gandhi visited Austria for the second time in 1983 during her tenure. Before him, the country's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru also visited Austria in 1955. In such a situation, Narendra Modi will be the third Prime Minister to visit Austria. However, it is not that no Indian leader has visited Austria in four decades. Meanwhile, the then President KR Narayan visited Austria in 1999 and the then President Pratibha Patil visited Austria in 2011.
“This visit is a special honour as it is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to my country in 40 years. It is also significant as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with India.
Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
Why is PM Modi's visit special?
Austria is an important country in Central Europe. There are great opportunities for bilateral cooperation between India and Austria in the field of infrastructure, renewable energy, high technology sectors, start-up sectors, media and entertainment. India-Austria are also good partners in the field of trade and investment. 30 to 40 large Austrian companies are already present in India in many sectors ranging from infrastructure, tunnel construction, track laying. The India-Austria Start-up Bridge has been launched in February 2024. Austria is already receiving a significant amount of investment from India. India and Austria also signed several agreements in May last year. Both countries continue to work together to expand and explore new areas of bilateral partnership.
I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, the world's largest democracy, to Vienna next week. This visit is a special honour as it is the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to my country in forty years. It is also significant as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with India.
Karl Nehammer, Chancellor, Austria
Relations were established in 1949
Austria recognised India's independence in 1947. Diplomatic relations between India and Austria were established in 1949. Both countries also have embassies in each other's country. India and Austria have good diplomatic relations with each other. Economic relations between the two countries have improved in the last few years. Austria exports machinery, automotive parts and chemicals to India. At the same time, it exports electronics goods, footwear, rubber goods, vehicle and railway parts, textiles and pharmaceuticals to India. Both countries seem to stand with each other on climate change as well as sustainable development.
