Poland is an important partner for India in Central Europe, the MEA says
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to embark on a significant diplomatic journey, visiting Poland on August 21-22, 2024 and Ukraine on August 23, 2024. These visits mark a pivotal moment in India's international relations, as the Prime Minister aims to strengthen ties with these European nations and address pressing global issues.
 
Here is How PM Modi’s Visit to Poland is Historic

This will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 45 years. The last Indian PM to visit Poland was Morarji Desai in 1979.

Prime Minister Modi’s visit coincides with the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Poland, making it a momentous occasion.
 
During his stay in Poland, PM Modi will engage in high-level meetings with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda. These discussions are expected to focus on enhancing economic cooperation, bolstering trade, and exploring new avenues of partnership between the two nations.
 
In addition to high-level engagements with the country’s top political leadership, Prime Minister Modi will also use the occasion to pay tribute to the Indian soldiers who fought alongside Polish and Allied forces.

Poland an Important Partner for India in Central Europe

Briefing the media on the upcoming visit on Monday (August 19, 2024), Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Tanmay Lal described Poland as an important partner for India in Central Europe.
 
The reasons are not far to seek. As Lal pointed out, Poland has the sixth largest economy within the European Union. Additionally, Poland will hold the next Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
 
The India-Poland bilateral trade is of the order of USD6 billion, which makes Poland India's largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe. Indian investments into Poland are estimated at around USD3 billion while Polish investments into India are around USD1 billion.

The MEA Secretary also referred to the presence of a large Indian community in Poland, estimated at around 25,000, including about 5,000 students. “You may recall that the government and people of Poland had offered valuable assistance during Operation Ganga for the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine. More than 4,000 Indian students were evacuated via Poland during 2022,” he noted.
 
Unique World War II Era Bond Between India & Poland

“One of the unique bonds between our countries relates to the time in the 1940s, during World War II, when more than 6,000 Polish women and children found refuge in two princely states in India, Jamnagar and Kolhapur. As you may be aware, Jam Sahib of Navanagar had provided shelter to more than 1,000 Polish children, and others were offered refuge in Kolhapur,” Secretary (West) Lal said during the media briefing.

While in Warsaw, Prime Minister Modi will visit memorials that commemorate the very special episodes of Jamnagar and Kolhapur in the shared history of India and Poland, he added.
 
The visit will also provide an opportunity to honour the bravery of the Indian soldiers who fought alongside Polish and Allied forces in the Battle of Monte Cassino during World War II. This battle was a crucial part of the Allied campaign, leading to the liberation of Rome. PM Modi will honour them at a memorial in Warsaw.
 
Poland has long been a centre of Indology, with Sanskrit being studied at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow since 1860. During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to engage with scholars and students, further promoting cultural and academic exchanges between India and Poland. The University of Warsaw, home to the largest Indology department in Central Europe, continues to be a hub for Indian studies.

The popularity of Yoga in Poland, with over 300,000 practitioners and 1,000 centres, is another testament to the cultural ties between the two nations.
 
Following his visit to Poland, PM Modi will travel to Ukraine on August 23, 2024, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in over 30 years. The visit comes at a critical time, as Ukraine remains embroiled in conflict with Russia and builds upon recent high-level interactions between Indian and Ukrainian leaders.
 
Prime Minister Modi’s visits to Poland and Ukraine represent a significant step forward in India’s diplomatic relations with Europe. These historic visits not only honour the past but also pave the way for stronger economic, cultural, and political ties. As India continues to play an important role on the global stage, these engagements reflect the country’s commitment to fostering peace, cooperation, and mutual respect among nations.