India-Austria Partnership Set To Become More Innovation-Centric, Says PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the partnership between India and Austria will likely become more innovation-centric and future-ready following talks with Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker.

The leaders discussed ways to deepen cooperation in areas such as innovation, infrastructure, and sustainability, while reaffirming their commitment to strengthening trade and investment ties.

PM Modi noted that Chancellor Stocker’s visit marks a significant milestone, highlighting that it is the first trip by an Austrian Chancellor to India in over four decades. He also described the visit as a reflection of Stocker’s commitment to bilateral ties and pointed to the momentum created by the India-EU Free Trade Agreement.

During the discussions, both sides explored opportunities to expand collaboration in key sectors, including defence, semiconductors, futuristic technologies, and startups.

Prime Minister Modi expressed confidence that these areas hold strong potential to further deepen economic engagement and bilateral cooperation. He emphasised that both countries are committed to injecting new energy into trade and investment linkages, strengthening economic ties amid evolving global dynamics.

Austrian Chancellor Christian Stocker thanked PM Modi for the invitation and hospitality, describing his visit to New Delhi as the beginning of a new chapter in India-Austria relations. He underlined the importance of reliable partnerships amid growing geopolitical uncertainty and noted that the two nations share longstanding ties spanning over 75 years.

Tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat

Earlier in the day, the Austrian Chancellor paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, he laid a wreath and reflected on Gandhi’s message of peace and non-violence.

The Austrian Chancellor arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday for his first official visit since assuming office, aimed at strengthening cooperation across trade, investment, and emerging technologies.

Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met him and expressed confidence that the visit would open new avenues for collaboration.

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