India, Poland strengthen ties during first visit by an Indian PM in 45 years

As Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi concludes his historic Poland visit as the first Indian Prime Minister in over four decades, one may ask what do the two countries have in common? Well, it is something fundamental to the ethos of both countries, separated by thousands of kilometres.

The Polish saying ‘Gość w domu, Bóg w domu’ meaning ‘A guest in the house is like God in the house’ is the same as what India is known for- ‘Atithi Devo Bhava’ (in Sanskrit) meaning ‘Guest is God’.

So it is natural that Mr. Modi received a heart-warming welcome in Poland and in the course of his two-day stay, on the way to Ukraine, India and Poland have decided to strengthen their diplomatic relationship to the level of strategic partnership.

The Indian Prime Minister, who is hugely popular as a global leader, met his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk in the capital city Warsaw and charted a new course in mutual cooperation.

This is the first time in 45 years that an Indian prime minister has visited Poland. The last Indian PM to visit the European country was Morarji Desai in 1979.

Besides discussing cooperation in defence and agriculture and planning to boost mutual trade, the prime ministers of both nations, celebrating 70 years of bilateral relations this year, confirmed their commitment to peace in Ukraine as Narendra Modi will be visiting the war-torn country, which is going to be the first visit by an Indian PM since bilateral ties began in 1992.

Following the meeting between Modi and Tusk, the two sides unveiled a five-year "Action Plan" for the India-Poland strategic partnership identifying a range of areas including defence, trade, agri-tech, energy, green technologies, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and mining for cooperation, according to reports.

"This year we celebrate 70 years of our diplomatic relations. On this occasion, we have decided to reshape our relationship into a strategic partnership," Modi said in his media statement. "Today we have identified several initiatives to give a new direction to our relations."

PM Modi said the social security agreement will promote the mobility of the workforce and ensure their welfare. He also thanked Poland for facilitating the evacuation of Indian students from Ukraine after the war began in 2022.

Modi said during a joint press conference with his Polish counterparts that the relations between India and Poland are based on shared values such as democracy and rule of law.

"Today we have identified several initiatives to give a new direction to our relations. As two democratic countries, exchanges between our parliaments should be encouraged. Efforts will be made to connect the private sector to broaden economic cooperation," he said.

Noting that Poland is among the world leaders in food processing, Narendra Modi said he wants Polish companies to join the Mega Food Parks being built in India.

"In India rapid urbanization is opening up new opportunities for our cooperation in areas such as water treatment, solid waste management, and urban infrastructure. Clean Coal Technology, Green Hydrogen, Renewable Energy, Artificial Intelligence are also our common priorities. We invite Polish companies to join Make in India and Make for the World," PM Modi said.

"India has achieved many accomplishments in areas such as fintech, pharma, and space. We would be happy to share our experience in these areas with Poland. Close cooperation in the field of defence is a symbol of our deep mutual trust, and mutual cooperation in this area will be strengthened," Modi said.

"Innovation and talent are the mark of youth power in both our countries," he added. "For the welfare of the skilled workforce, skilled workers, and to promote mobility, a Social Security Agreement has been agreed upon between the two parties."

Highlighting that India and Poland are moving ahead in close coordination on the international stage, Modi said that both countries have agreed that to meet the global challenges, reform in the United Nations and international institutions is the need of the hour.

"Terrorism is a big challenge for us. More such cooperation is required between countries like India and Poland which believe in humanity," he said.

Talking about climate change, the Indian PM said, "Climate change is a matter of shared priority for us. We will combine our strengths to work for a green future”

Calling Thursday (August 22) a very important day for Polish-Indian relations, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said during the joint press conference, “We have always understood each other well, despite the distance, the different traditions, the different histories."

“It is precisely history that has taught us, as the Prime Minister and I emphasised during our conversation, the importance of respecting the rules, respecting borders, the integrity of the territory, sovereignty, the rule of law,” Tusk added. "I welcome the Indian Prime Minister’s declaration of a commitment to a peaceful end to the war in Ukraine."

After the Indian PM's meeting with his Polish counterpart, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Secretary, West, Tanmaya Lal said Narendra Modi's visit to Poland had been "historic and very successful."

"Historic, since this was after 45 years that an Indian PM was visiting Poland and also this year marks the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations," the MEA Secretary, West, said.

"One of the main aspects of the visit has been that both the countries have decided to take their relationship to the level of strategic partnership," Tanmaya Lal said.

"Poland is a very important partner for India in this region. Poland will also be holding the Presidency of the European Union Council next year. India-EU relations are also extensive as some of you would be knowing that there are negotiations ongoing on finalising an India-EU FTA," Lal continued.

According to an article in Indian think tank ORF (Observer Research Foundation), the two countries share several chapters of history.

"During World War II, the Maharaja of Jamnagar provided refuge to several hundred Polish women and children trying to reach the West, sheltering them on his estate in Gujarat for several months.

"To this day, the 'Children of the Maharaja' remain in contact, and a street and a junior high school in Warsaw have been named in his honour. In 1944, Poles and Indians joined forces to retake the hill and monastery of Monte Cassino, pushing out German forces and opening the Allies' path to Rome," according to the article jointly penned by Malgorzata Bonikowska, a professor at Warsaw University, Centre for Europe, Tomasz Łukaszuk, an expert at Centrum Stosunków Międzynarodowych (CIR) and a professor at Warsaw University, Department of Political Sciences and International Studies and Bruno Surdel, a senior analyst at CIR.

So it was in the fitness of things that PM Modi laid a wreath and paid tribute to The Dobry Maharaja Memorial in Warsaw on Wednesday. The memorial, located at the Square of the Good Maharaja, Warsaw, is a remembrance of the deep respect and gratitude that the people and government of Poland have for the Jamsaheb of Nawanagar Digvijaysinhji Ranjitsinhji Jadeja (of modern day Jamnagar in Gujarat).

Diplomatic relations between the two nations were established in 1954, leading to the opening of the Indian Embassy in Warsaw in 1957.

The two countries shared common ideological perceptions, based on their opposition to colonialism, imperialism and racism.

The Indo-Polish relationship continued to remain close after Poland chose the democratic path in 1989.

The two countries transitioned to hard currency trading arrangements that were sustained by rising levels of trade as both economies grew in size and heft.

A cordial political relationship between the two nations has emerged in the current century, particularly after Poland joined the EU in 2004, and became India’s key economic partner in Central Europe.

After the weakening of relations in the 1990s related to transformation changes in Poland and economic reforms in India, regular contacts are maintained.
Bilateral trade between the two countries grew manifold in the past decades.

The Indo-Polish Chamber of Commerce and Industry (IPCCI) was formed in 2008.

Poland continues to be India’s largest trading and investment partner in Central and Eastern Europe.

Indian IT giants like Infosys and Wipro have set up service centres in Poland while firms from Gujarat and Haryana have established trade and investment co-operations with Poland in the dairy and automotive industries.

Indian companies are partners in the development of Poland and have created a substantial number of jobs locally, especially Indian IT companies which have invested in Poland and are estimated to employ nearly 10,000 Polish nationals.

On the other hand, total Polish investment in India is estimated at $685 million.
,
The total bilateral trade with Poland has witnessed a rise of 192 percent -- from $1.95 billion in 2013 to $5.72 billion in 2023 -- over the period 2013-2023, while the balance of trade continues to be largely in favour of India in 2023.

India and Poland also have a long-standing history of cooperation in science and technology.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and the Indian National Science Academy (INSA) have ongoing scientific exchange programmes with the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS).

Indian investment in Poland has been steadily growing over the years and is now estimated to be over $ 3 billion.

India and Poland also have a long-running defence cooperation.

India's defence relations with Poland have grown from military cooperation to comprehensive defence cooperation that includes courses, training for UN peacekeeping operations, and exchange of observers during army exercises.

Mr. Modi’s visit truly charted a new path of cooperation between the two nations with many shared values.