India, Croatia to speed up bilateral ties three times, to formulate Defence Cooperation Plan: PM Modi

Zagreb [Croatia], June 18 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that India and Croatia will promote cooperation in many areas including pharma, agriculture, information technology and a Defence Cooperation Plan will be made for long-term cooperation in the defence sector.

In a joint press statement with Croatia PM Andrej Plenkovic after their delegation-level talks, PM Modi said the two countries have emphasised joint research and collaboration between their academic institutions and India will share its space experience with Croatia.

PM Modi reached Croatia earlier in the day in the last leg of his three-nation visit.

"We have decided to speed up our bilateral relations three times in our third term. A Defence Cooperation Plan will be made for long-term cooperation in the defence sector, which will focus on training and military exchange as well as defence industry. There are many areas where our economies can complement each other. These areas have been identified," he said.

"We have decided to increase cooperation in many areas to increase bilateral trade and create a reliable supply chain. We will promote cooperation in many important areas like pharma, agriculture, information technology, clean technology, digital technology, renewable energy," he added.

The Prime Minister said there are also ample opportunities for Croatian companies in the port modernisation, coastal zone development and multi-modal connectivity being carried out under India's Sagarmala Project.

"We have emphasised joint research and collaboration between our academic institutions and centres. India will share its space experience with Croatia. Our centuries-old cultural relations are the root of mutual affection and goodwill... Today, we have decided to give more strength to our cultural and people-to-people relations. The duration of the MoU of Hindi Chair in Zagreb University has been extended till 2030. A cultural exchange program has been prepared for the next five years. The mobility agreement will be completed soon to facilitate the movement of people," he said.

PM Modi expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the Croatian Prime Minister and the Croatian government for the enthusiasm, warmth and affection with which he has been welcomed.

"This is the first visit of any Indian Prime Minister to Croatia, and I have had the good fortune of it. India and Croatia are connected by common values like democracy, rule of law, pluralism and quality. It is a happy coincidence that last year the people of India have given me and the people of Croatia have given the opportunity to Croatian Prime Minister, Andrej Plenkovic to serve for the third consecutive time," he said.

The Prime Minister was earlier accorded ceremonial welcome on his arrival in Croatia. (ANI)

(The story has come from a syndicated feed and has not been edited by the Tribune Staff.)