India’s key ally will increase connectivity, says Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis | India News – Business Standard

India and Greece will work towards early finalization of the proposed migration and mobility pact as outlined by both countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said in a press statement on Wednesday.

The pact is expected to be in line with similar agreements signed with other European partners and is expected to allow easier movement of Indian skilled labor to Greece.

“We discussed concluding the Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement between the two countries as soon as possible. This will further strengthen our people-to-people ties,” Modi said after his bilateral meeting with Mitsotakis, who is in India on a two-day state visit.

When it comes to shaping global debates and tackling major challenges, India is now often, and rightly, seen as a consensus builder and a voice of reason in an increasingly polarized world, the Greek Prime Minister said.

“Today, India is a major power on the world stage and a key ally in the pursuit of peace and security – a rising power at the heart of the G20 and a leading player in the fight against climate change,” he said.

In December 2023, Business standard reported that Greece has approached India to send up to 10,000 seasonal agricultural workers, while Italy has sought workers for municipal duties in emptying cities.

The Mediterranean country is facing an acute shortage of at least 70,000 workers in Greece for domestic production of vegetables, fruit, olive oil and milk.

Data from the Ministry of External Affairs shows that 12,300 Indians live in the country.

According to the Indian Embassy in Athens, most are from Punjab and work as agricultural, factory or construction workers.

Ties between India and Greece were upgraded to the level of a strategic partnership six months ago during Modi’s visit to Athens.

“We have emphasized increasing cooperation in many areas such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, technology, innovation, skills development and space,” the Prime Minister said.

He also emphasized promoting cooperation between higher education institutions of the two countries. Both countries have decided to draw up an action plan to mark the 75th anniversary of diplomatic ties between India and Greece next year.

Both countries have also established a Defense Working Group and will enhance mutual coordination on common challenges such as defence, cyber security, counter-terrorism and maritime security.

“We have agreed to connect the defense industries of both countries. India and Greece have common concerns and priorities in the fight against terrorism. We discussed in detail how we can further strengthen our cooperation in this regard,” Modi said.

Last year, the countries held one of their largest ever joint naval exercises in Greece. Meanwhile, the country’s air chief visited India in June 2023 and met the military leadership here.

The Prime Minister also made a plea for Greece to become a key part of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC).

The IMEC corridor, launched during India’s G20 chairmanship, will contribute significantly to humanity’s development in the long run, Modi said.

Greece can also become an important partner in this initiative, he added.

Focus on India

Mitsotakis was also the chief guest and delivered the keynote address at the ninth edition of the annual Raisina Dialogue geopolitical conference on Wednesday.

Strengthening the partnership with India should be the cornerstone of Europe’s and Greece’s foreign policies, he stressed.

“We have made good progress toward achieving that goal in recent years, but we still have much further to go,” he said.

“India’s status is reflected in the strategic relations that the European Union maintains with India. “Greece, given its geographical, cultural and strategic proximity, can act as an interlocutor between India and Europe, the Global North and the Global South, and between East and West,” he said.

For his part, Mitsotakis emphasized that his country welcomes IMEC, arguing that the corridor is promising not only as an economic solution but also as a peace project.

“We (Greece) are your natural gateway to Europe and beyond. The war in Gaza and the turmoil in the Middle East are undoubtedly destabilizing, but do not undermine the deeply powerful logic behind IMEC,” he stressed.

Mitsotakis described the conflict in Ukraine as much more than a “local war on European soil” and that it is a “brutal challenge” to international stability and the rules-based order that India has supported.

Mitsotakis’ visit is Greece’s first bilateral visit to India in 15 years.

First print: February 21, 2024 | 10:50 PM IST