Joint Declaration upgrades Greece-India relationship to Strategic Partnership

Upgrading the relationship of Greece and India to a Strategic Partnerhsip is at the core of the Joint Declaration signed by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and his visiting counterpart of India Narendra Modi in Athens on Friday.

The two leaders agreed to work towards expanding bilateral collaboration in economic, political, and security levels, in view of doubling bilateral trade in coming years.

The Joint Declaration reflects the shared understanding of Greece and India on a free, open, yet rules-based Mediterranean Sea and Indo-Pacific, in accordance with the Law of the Sea, and specifically with the provisions of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in full respect for sovereignty, territorial integrity and freedom of navigation for the benefit of international peace, stability and security.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Agricultural Sector was also signed earlier in the day, while an agreement on Mobility & Migration currently in process is expected to be finalized in the very near future.

Mitsotakis and Modi discussed and agreed on deepening and intensifying synergies in the fields of defense, shipping, science, technology, cyberspace, education, culture, tourism and agriculture.

They exchanged views on regional and international issues, with Mitsotakis underlining Greece's role in the region as a pillar of stability, peace and security, and as a bridge of cooperation between three continents.

The meeting was followed by a lunch with representatives of Greek and Indian companies and institutions.

Greece has left a very difficult crisis period behind, Mitsotakis noted, as "we are going from record to record in terms of direct foreign investments. We are very interested in presenting the Greek success story to the Indian business community, this is just the beginning," he added, speaking at the dinner.

Opportunities exist in many sectors, not only in tourism, highligted the Greek premier: in industrial production, in infrastructure, in pharmaceuticals, "where we have a strong presence, in food, in shipbuilding, in financial services, in technology, in digital payment systems."

The strategic partnership between India and Greece "will strengthen our relations even further,” noted Modi, adding that Greece "has gone through a difficult period and is now on the road to progress. I congratulate the Greek people, the Prime Minister and the heads of business for your efforts, which made reforms in the country possible."