Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Greece on Friday, the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece after 40 years. He is expected to take part in talks aimed at strengthening bilateral ties between the two nations.
Modi flew to Athens at the invitation of Prime Minister of Greece Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Prime Minister left South Africa on Thursday after attending the 15th BRICS Summit.
"I have the honour to be the first Indian Prime Minister to visit Greece after 40 years," Modi had said. The last high-level visit to Greece took place in September 1983 when then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi travelled to the country.
Modi will hold talks with Mitsotakis to discuss ways to further deepen the relationship. He is also expected to meet President Katerina Sakellaropoulou. He will also interact with business leaders from both countries, as well as with the Indian community in Greece during his day-long visit.
The Prime Minister was welcomed to Athens by the members of Indian diaspora. Hundreds lined up outside the hotel in Athens where Modi will stay during his one-day official visit. "The Indian community is gathered here to welcome PM Modi. Discussions between PM Modi and Greek PM on issues of trade and migrants will help further improve relations between the two countries," a member of Indian community in Athens told ANI.
The PM will also interact with the Indian community. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said Modi will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. "Thereafter, he will meet the President of Greece, hold talks with the Greek PM and meet with business leaders of both sides. Before departing, the PM will interact with the Indian community who are all excited to receive him after the success of the Chandrayaan-3 mission," he added.
Biz delegation
Prime Minister Modi will be accompanied by a business delegation and is scheduled to interact with business leaders from both the countries.
India's Ambassador to Greece Rudrendra Tandon had stressed in an earlier interview with PTI on how Modi's visit will give a "new impetus" to their close bilateral relationship, particularly in areas such as trade, security and people-to-people contact.
"Trade economics and investments are certainly on the cards. There is a business delegation accompanying the prime minister during this visit. I also know there will be an interaction of the two PMs with Indian and Greek businessmen. Certainly, we hope that some magic will come from those conversations," Tandon said.
Tandon added that cross-border terrorism (CBT) will be an important agenda for discussion during Modi's talks with the Greek leadership.