PM Modi receives traditional welcome in Slovakia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm and traditional welcome in Slovakia on Monday as he arrived in Bratislava on the second leg of his European tour, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to visit the Central European nation and underscoring a growing partnership that is increasingly driven by trade, investment and industrial cooperation.
Upon his arrival in the Slovak capital, Modi was welcomed by Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanar and greeted with cultural performances showcasing the country's rich folk traditions. In a symbolic gesture of hospitality, the Prime Minister was presented with bread and salt, a traditional Slovak custom representing goodwill, friendship and respect for guests.Sharing his experience on social media platform X, Modi described the welcome as a reflection of Slovakia's cultural heritage and values."The welcome in Bratislava included the traditional offering of bread and salt, a beautiful reflection of Slovakia's rich cultural heritage and the values of goodwill and friendship they cherish," he said.

Bratislava, Slovakia: Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a ceremonial welcome pic.twitter.com/Cd7Qvsh5zX

— IANS (@ians_india) June 15, 2026

The Prime Minister also witnessed a folk dance performance by Kopaničiarik, a renowned cultural ensemble from Slovakia's Myjava region. Posting snippets of the performance, Modi praised the role of folk traditions in preserving a nation's identity and history."Folk traditions such as these help preserve one's culture and history," he wrote.
Modi also expressed gratitude to the Indian community in Slovakia for the warm reception, noting that such gestures reflect the enduring bonds between the people of the two countries and contribute to strengthening bilateral friendship.

Bol som svedkom podmanivého vystúpenia súboru Kopaničiarik z regiónu Myjava na Slovensku. Takéto ľudové tradície pomáhajú uchovávať kultúru a históriu národa. pic.twitter.com/mWmL9IiTYy

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 15, 2026

The visit comes at a time when India and Slovakia are witnessing a significant expansion in economic engagement. While diplomatic ties between the two countries have steadily evolved over the decades, trade and investment have emerged as key pillars of the relationship.
India and Slovakia deepen economic partnership as bilateral trade reaches record highs
According to official figures, bilateral trade crossed the USD 1 billion mark for the first time in 2024, reaching approximately USD 1.38 billion. The momentum continued in 2025, with total trade surging nearly 28 per cent to a record USD 1.81 billion, reflecting growing commercial linkages between the two economies.India's exports to Slovakia have risen sharply over the past five years, led by automotive components, engineering products, machinery, pharmaceuticals, mobile phones and electrical equipment. Vehicle parts, including gearboxes and spark-ignition engines, account for a substantial share of India's shipments to the European nation.
Slovakia, meanwhile, has strengthened its position as an important supplier of automobiles and industrial equipment to India. Passenger cars and automotive components remain the largest category of imports, followed by machinery, electrical equipment, steel products, rubber goods and ceramics.
The automotive sector has emerged as the backbone of bilateral economic cooperation. The Tata Group's Jaguar Land Rover manufacturing facility in Nitra, established with an investment of around €1.4 billion, remains India's flagship investment in Slovakia. The plant employs more than 4,400 people and produces Land Rover Discovery and Defender models for global markets.Indian companies including Tata Consultancy Services, National Engineering Industries, Dhoot Transmission, Samvardhana Motherson Group and Alicon Group have also expanded their footprint in Slovakia through investments, acquisitions and manufacturing operations.
At the same time, Slovak firms are increasing their presence in India across sectors such as railways, renewable energy, technology and manufacturing. Freight wagon manufacturer Tatravagónka, renewable energy major Envien Group and industrial technology companies including MicroStep-MIS and VIPO have all expanded their investments in the Indian market.
The growing economic partnership has received institutional support through the India-Slovakia Joint Economic Committee (JEC), the principal mechanism overseeing economic cooperation. The latest session of the committee was held in New Delhi in February 2025, bringing together policymakers and business leaders from both countries to explore new areas of collaboration.During his visit, Prime Minister Modi is scheduled to hold delegation-level talks with Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico and meet Slovak President Peter Pellegrini. Discussions are expected to focus on enhancing cooperation in trade, investment, innovation, automobile manufacturing, railway development, renewable energy and emerging technologies.
The Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) has said the visit will reaffirm India's commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Slovakia and build upon recent high-level engagements between the two countries.