Prime Minister Narendra Modi Meets Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer in Historic Visit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Austria, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in 41 years. He met Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer to strengthen bilateral ties, emphasizing shared democratic values and the rule of law.
PM Modi arrived in Vienna on Tuesday for a day-long State visit. The visit is significant as it coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Austria. PM Modi expressed his delight, stating, “Had an excellent meeting with Chancellor Karl Nehammer. This visit to Austria is very special because it is after several decades that an Indian Prime Minister is visiting this wonderful country. It is also the time when we are marking 75 years of the India-Austria friendship.”
Economic cooperation was a key theme in their discussions, with both leaders acknowledging the potential for enhancing trade and investment ties. PM Modi highlighted, “Stronger economic ties naturally featured in our talks but we do not want to limit our friendship to only this aspect. We see immense potential in areas like infra development, innovation, water resources, AI, climate change and more.”
The meeting was described as “extensive and fruitful” by Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. In addition to bilateral matters, PM Modi and Chancellor Nehammer exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, underscoring the importance of collaborative approaches to international challenges.
PM Modi and Chancellor Nehammer also participated in the India-Austria Business Meeting, bringing together around 40 businesses from both nations to explore new economic opportunities and strengthen bilateral trade relations. They also addressed a joint press statement following their delegation-level talks.
Notably, this is the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Austria in 41 years, with Indira Gandhi being the last PM to visit in 1983. PM Modi’s visit to Austria comes after his two-day official visit to Russia, where he met Russian President Vladimir Putin.