Prime Minister Modi Arrives in Warsaw: First Indian Prime Minister to Visit Poland Since 1979

Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Poland on Tuesday, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the European nation in 45 years. Morarji Desai was the last Indian Prime Minister to visit Poland in 1979. Modi landed in Warsaw, the capital of Poland, and will continue his journey to Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on the second leg of his trip.

“Landed in Poland. Looking forward to the various programmes here. This visit will add momentum to the India-Poland friendship and benefit the people of our nations,” Modi posted on X. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that the Prime Minister received a ceremonial welcome upon arrival in Warsaw.

During his stay in Poland, Modi is scheduled to meet with President Andrzej Sebastian Duda and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He will also engage with the Indian diaspora, lay a wreath at the memorial of the Jam Saheb of Nawanagar, and visit both the monument to the Battle of Monte Cassino and the Kolhapur Memorial.

In a pre-departure statement, Modi described Poland as “India’s key economic partner in Central Europe.” “Our mutual commitment to democracy and pluralism further reinforces our relationship. I look forward to meeting my friend Prime Minister Donald Tusk and President Andrzej Duda to further advance our partnership,” said the Prime Minister.

The MEA highlighted the significance of this visit, noting that bilateral trade between India and Poland is substantial, amounting to approximately $6 billion. This makes Poland India’s largest trading partner in Central and Eastern Europe. Indian investments in Poland are estimated at around $3 billion, while Polish investments in India are around $1 billion.

“Many Indian companies have an active business presence in Poland, spanning sectors from IT to pharmaceuticals, manufacturing, farm vehicles, electronics, steel, metals, and chemicals. Nearly 30 Polish companies operate in India, with some having manufacturing units. The direct flights between India and Poland, which began in 2019, further bolster our economic and commercial linkages,” said MEA Secretary Tanmaya Lal.

On Friday, PM Modi will visit Kyiv, marking the first-ever visit by an Indian Prime Minister to Ukraine, which has been embroiled in conflict with Russia since February 2022. The visit to Kyiv comes on the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. India has faced criticism from Western nations for continuing to purchase oil from Russia and for its neutral stance on the conflict, including abstaining from voting against Russia in the United Nations.