Rasi Meets President of India Droupadi Murmu, Discusses Trade

Bratislava, April 9 (TASR) - House Chair Richard Rasi (Voice-SD) received President of India Droupadi Murmu at the Slovak Parliament on Wednesday to reaffirm the historical ties and friendly relations between the two countries in the fields of the economy, education and culture, TASR learnt from Parliament's press department on the same day. As the last meeting at the level of parliamentary heads took place in 2008, Rasi confirmed an invitation to the speaker of the Lower House of the Indian Parliament. "We are building on the historical tradition of political relations between our countries and aim to elevate them to a strategic level," said Rasi. The president of India considers it important to continue the tradition of cooperation between the parliaments of both countries as well. Both Bratislava and New Delhi recognise the great potential for bilateral relations and believe that high-level dialogue could facilitate further growth in joint trade and investments. "Trade exchanges between Slovakia and India are growing. A prime example of successful economic cooperation is several Indian companies operating in Slovakia. We have a good history of developing infrastructure, industry, and technology," said the House chair. The significance of economic cooperation between the two countries is increasing amid growing protectionism and the introduction of tariffs. In this regard, Rasi pointed to the visit by the ministers of foreign affairs and finance back in March, which opened the door for the largest Slovak business delegation to date in India. Rasi and Murmu also voiced their appreciation for cooperation in the fields of culture and education. According to the Parliament Office, there are currently about 600 Indian students studying in Slovakia, which has provided eight government scholarships to Indian students and researchers in 2025. The relationship between India and Slovakia dates back to the 1930s, and the Indian head of state agreed with the House chair that relations are free of any unresolved issues and are based on shared values of democracy, the rule of law, and human rights protection. "The Slovak Republic is a strong advocate of multilateralism, and India, as one of the largest countries in the world, is a key partner for us. The contribution of India's peace initiatives in foreign policy should also be emphasised," stressed Rasi. The meeting with President Murmu was also attended by legislators Paula Puskarova, Michal Bartek (both Voice-SD), Karol Farkasovsky (SNS) and Marian Kery (Smer-SD). Murmu is slated to meet Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) and visit the Jaguar Land Rover factory in Nitra on Thursday (April 10). Additionally, she will be awarded an honorary Doctorate at the Constantine the Philosopher University in Nitra. mf/df