Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Warsaw this evening, marking the beginning of his two-nation visit that will also include a stop in Kyiv, Ukraine. This visit is significant as it is the first by an Indian Prime Minister to Poland in 45 years; the last such visit was by Morarji Desai in 1979.
Upon his arrival in Warsaw, PM Modi was given a ceremonial welcome. During his stay, he is scheduled to meet with President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral discussions with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Additionally, he will visit memorials in Warsaw dedicated to the 6,000 Polish women and children who took refuge in the princely states of Jamnagar and Kolhapur during World War II. The Prime Minister will also address the local Indian community, estimated at around 25,000, as well as Polish business leaders and prominent Indologists.
PM Modi has previously met his Polish counterpart on four occasions when he was the President of the European Council. In March 2022, he had a phone call with President Duda to express gratitude for Poland’s assistance in evacuating Indian citizens from Ukraine and for relaxing visa requirements for those crossing into Poland from the conflict zone, which facilitated the evacuation of over 4,000 Indian students.
In his departure statement, PM Modi highlighted that his visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Poland. He noted Poland’s significance as a key economic partner in Central Europe.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), bilateral trade between India and Poland stands at approximately $6 billion, making Poland India’s largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe. Indian investments in Poland are around $3 billion, while Polish investments in India total about $1 billion. Indian companies are active in various sectors in Poland, including IT, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, and more. Conversely, nearly 30 Polish companies operate in India, with some even running manufacturing units. Direct flights between India and Poland, which started in 2019, have further bolstered economic and commercial connections, as noted by MEA Secretary Tanmaya Lal.
Following his visit to Poland, Prime Minister Modi is set to travel to Kyiv on August 23 for discussions with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
