What happened?
On 9 April 2025, President Droupadi Murmu concluded the Slovakia leg of her State Visit to Portugal and the Slovak Republic—the first by an Indian President in 29 years. In Bratislava, she held high-level meetings with President Peter Pellegrini, Prime Minister Robert Fico, and Speaker of the National Council Richard Raši. Two Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were exchanged—one between India’s National Small Industries Corporation (NSIC) and the Slovak Business Agency for MSME cooperation, and another between India’s Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) and Slovakia’s Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs for diplomatic training.
During delegation-level talks, the leaders committed to expanding collaboration in trade, defence, technology, nuclear energy, space, and culture. President Murmu also highlighted the potential for joint film production and invited Slovakia to participate in the upcoming WAVE Summit in Mumbai. She will also inaugurate the India-Slovak Business Forum and visit the Tata Jaguar Land Rover plant in Nitra.
Why it matters to India
The visit reinforces India’s diplomatic outreach to Central and Eastern Europe, a region of growing importance for diversifying economic and strategic partnerships. Slovakia’s support during India’s Ukraine evacuation highlighted shared humanitarian values, and the new MoUs are set to expand India’s global MSME and diplomatic engagement. As Slovakia positions itself as a hub for European industry and innovation, India stands to benefit from enhanced cooperation in manufacturing, defence, and creative industries. The engagement also reflects India’s focus on expanding its diplomatic footprint and deepening people-to-people ties with smaller EU nations.