Fico Meets Indian President, Invites Premier Modi to Visit Slovakia as Well

Bratislava, April 9 (TASR) - Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD) met President of India Droupadi Murmu at the old building of the Government Office (UV) on Wednesday and extended an invitation to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to visit Slovakia as well, TASR learnt from the Government Office's press department on the same day. "Slovak-Indian bilateral relations are friendly, constructive and without unresolved issues. The political dialogue between our countries is expanding, and the foreign ministers have met five times in the past two years. I hope that this trend in our relations will continue also at the level of the prime ministers," said the premier. According to the Government Office, the prime minister and the president discussed the development of the automotive industry, including in the context of the tariffs imposed by the United States. They also spoke about the potential for cooperation in the defence industry and tourism. The Government Office added that economic relations between the countries are gradually developing and bilateral trade is growing. During the meeting Fico stated that Slovakia remains a popular destination for Indian students and scientists. "Currently, there are about 600 Indian students in Slovakia, and I can see opportunities to expand cooperation in this area as well," he added. mf/df