Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is currently in Austria for a two-day visit. During his stay in Vienna, he will hold talks with Federal Chancellor Karl Nehammer, exchange views with Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and meet leading Austrian business leaders. The talks will focus on bilateral economic relations and the situation in the Ukraine conflict, in which India takes a neutral position.
Modi was travelling to Vienna from a two-day visit to Moscow, where he held meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin. India and Russia have close ties and are members of both the BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. The relationship between Modi and Putin is significant as they have a strong bond.
Nehammer's plans for the visit
Chancellor Nehammer plans to strengthen relations with the BRICS countries and expand economic ties with India. The bilateral trade volume between Austria and India amounted to 2.7 billion euros in 2023 and bilateral investments are also significant.
The Indian Prime Minister will be officially received with military honours and will attend various bilateral meetings. Particular attention will be paid to the intensive exchange between Indian and Austrian companies in order to exploit the economic potential of both countries.
Challenges in India
Modi has been in power for a decade and is striving to establish India as a global political and economic heavyweight. His party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), lost its absolute majority in the last general election and is now dependent on coalition partners.
Modi has faced criticism at home because his policies are perceived by some groups as favouring Hindus and discriminating against other ethnic groups. There have also been controversies over border policy and agrarian reforms, which have been the subject of regular protests.
Modi's visit to Austria marks the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Austria and India, which were established during the occupation in 1949.
Source: die-nachrichten.at
