Blitz Bureau
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar recently held bilateral talks with his Greek counterpart, George Gerapetritis, in New Delhi and emphasised increasing trade, investment, and connectivity between the two countries.
Welcoming the Greek delegation headed by Gerapetritis, Jaishankar highlighted India’s growing relationship with Greece, noting the frequent Prime Ministerial visits exchanged between both countries. “In the last year, our relationship has seen a huge upswing. It’s not often that we can say we had such a rapid exchange of Prime Ministerial visits. We have strong political comfort and people-to-people understanding. We would like more trade, more investment, more technological collaboration, and perhaps explore ways to work together on connectivity,” Jaishankar said.
Gerapetritis expressed Greece’s willingness to upscale bilateral relations in all respects, including tourism, culture, and trade.
“In the last couple of years, the bilateral relations between Greece and India have been upscaled tremendously. We would like to upscale our bilateral relations in all respects, including tourism, culture, and trade. As members of the UNSC, we would like to echo the voice of India within the United Nations. We would also like to be reliable interlocutors in the EU-India relationship. It is a unique opportunity for us as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations,” he said.
India and Greece have historically maintained warm and cooperative relations, supporting each other on key international matters, including Kashmir and Cyprus. Greece has consistently refrained from making statements on recent developments in Jammu & Kashmir, aligning with India’s concerns on the issue. Additionally, Athens has extended its support for India’s quest for a permanent seat in an expanded United Nations Security Council (UNSC), reinforcing the strong diplomatic ties between the two countries.
The Indian community in Greece has steadily grown over the years. According to the 2011 Greek census, there were 11,333 Indian nationals in the country, with estimates now ranging between 13,000 and 14,000. The majority of Indian expatriates in Greece are of Punjabi origin, predominantly Sikhs, engaged in sectors like farming, construction, and manufacturing. Many individuals initially arrived on temporary permits and later secured residency through various amnesty programs offered by the Greek Government, with the last major amnesty occurring in 2005.
