In a historic visit marking the first by an Indian President to Slovakia in nearly three decades, President Droupadi Murmu held productive talks with Slovak President Peter Pellegrini in Bratislava on Wednesday, reaffirming the deep-rooted friendship and shared values between India and Slovakia.
During her two-day visit, President Murmu engaged in both one-to-one and delegation-level discussions with President Pellegrini, focusing on enhancing cooperation across diverse sectors. From the Indian side, the delegation included Minister of State Nimuben Bambhaniya, MPs Dhaval Patel and Sandhya Ray, and senior officials.
The two nations witnessed the signing of two significant Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs): one between India’s National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and the Slovak Business Agency to promote cooperation in MSMEs, and another between India’s Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) and the Slovak Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, aimed at boosting diplomatic and institutional collaboration.
President Murmu lauded Slovakia’s growing appreciation for Indian art and culture and underlined the potential for deeper partnerships in media, entertainment, and the creative economy. She invited Slovakia to actively participate in the upcoming WAVE Summit in Mumbai, scheduled for May 1–4, 2025.
Earlier in the day, President Murmu was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace, including the traditional Slovak greeting with bread and salt, presented by a couple in folk attire.
Addressing a joint press conference, President Murmu emphasized the strong democratic ideals and shared global vision that bind India and Slovakia. She noted the steady growth in trade and investment, and praised the contributions of the Indian diaspora in Slovakia in strengthening people-to-people ties. Expressing gratitude, she also thanked Slovakia for its support during the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine.
President Pellegrini echoed the sentiment of enduring friendship, extending Slovakia’s full support to India’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. Highlighting cultural cooperation, he commended the translation of the ancient Indian text Upanishads into Slovak last year, reflecting the spiritual and cultural affinity between the two nations.
Later, President Murmu met with Richard Rasi, Speaker of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, and congratulated him on his recent election. She emphasized the important role of parliamentarians in fostering goodwill and knowledge exchange, applauding the tradition of the Slovak-India Parliamentary Friendship Group.
President Murmu’s visit underlines India’s commitment to expanding ties with Central European countries. The discussions are expected to lead to fresh initiatives and collaborations in sectors including defence, education, science, and technology. She will also interact with the Indian community in Slovakia, further reinforcing the strong people-to-people connect between the two countries.
