India and Austria to Strengthen Ties with Upcoming High-level Meetings

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Austria is noteworthy, as it will be the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Austria in 41 years. Scheduled for July 9-10, the visit coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries, which began in 1949. The last Indian Prime Minister to visit Austria was the late Indira Gandhi in 1983.

Prime Minister Modi's visit to Austria is set to concentrate on key areas such as infrastructure, renewable energy, high technology, and the startup sector. The visit will feature restricted delegation-level talks, a high-level business engagement, and an interaction with the Indian community in Vienna. During a special briefing in New Delhi last week, Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra emphasized the potential for bilateral cooperation in these sectors, highlighting Austria's expertise in infrastructure and renewable energy. The visit aims to explore new avenues for collaboration and strengthen existing ties.

India and Austria have shared a long history of diplomatic engagement. In 1953, India played a crucial role in Austria’s negotiations with the Soviet Union, leading to Austria’s independence in 1955. Diplomatic relations between the two countries have since flourished, with several high-level visits and the establishment of the Indo-Austrian Joint Economic Commission (JEC) in 1983. This commission has facilitated over 200 collaborations, including technical collaborations and joint ventures in fields such as steel, manufacturing technology, railway transport, and metallurgy.

Trade between India and Austria is well-balanced, with India exporting electronic goods, textiles, footwear, and machinery while importing machinery, railway parts, and steel from Austria. Notably, in 2013, India’s PSLV-C20 launched Austria’s first two satellites, TUGSAT-1/BRITE and UniBRITE, showcasing the strong cooperation in space technology. In recent years, the relationship between India and Austria has continued to strengthen. In February 2023, the ‘India-Austria Startup Bridge’ was launched to foster innovation and entrepreneurship between the two nations. This initiative aims to create a robust platform for startups from both countries to collaborate and drive technological advancements.

Prime Minister Modi has consistently maintained cordial relations with Austria. In his first term, he met then-Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern in 2017 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. During his second term, he met Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg at the COP-26 summit in Glasgow in 2021. These interactions have paved the way for deeper cooperation and mutual understanding.

The Indian community in Austria, estimated at over 31,000, mainly consists of healthcare professionals, businessmen, and students. Predominantly from Kerala and Punjab, the diaspora is evenly split between Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs). This community plays a crucial role in strengthening the cultural and economic ties between the two countries.

External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar's visit to Austria from December 2022 to January 2023 laid the groundwork for PM Modi's visit. During his trip, Jaishankar met with Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, Chancellor Karl Nehammer, and National Council President Wolfgang Sobotka. Five agreements were signed, encompassing various aspects of bilateral relations, including political, economic, and consular ties.