“Our relationship has steadily grown in strength, marked by mutual respect and increased cooperation across various sectors.”
Slovakia and India have enjoyed diplomatic relations since 1993. How do you see this relationship over the past few decades, and what are the main areas of cooperation between the two countries?
Slovakia and India established diplomatic relations in 1993, right after Slovakia became an independent country. Over the past three decades, our relationship has steadily grown in strength, marked by mutual respect and increased cooperation across various sectors.
Both countries maintain very friendly diplomatic ties, with regular high-level visits and dialogues that foster bilateral understanding. Slovakia has supported India in global forums, and vice versa, with both nations sharing values like democracy, the rule of law and a commitment to international peace.
Trade has been a growing pillar of our relationship. When I left India last year, the annual turnover for 2023 was at the level of 800 million euros; last year it was already half as much more – almost 1.3 billion euros. Slovakia exports machinery, cars, and chemicals to India, while importing car-parts, telecommunication equipment, textiles, pharmaceuticals, IT services, and industrial products.
The automotive sector is especially important, given Slovakia’s position as a manufacturing hub in Europe. There’s growing potential for collaboration in research and development (R&D), particularly in green technologies, renewable energy, digitalization and cyber security. EV technology and battery manufacturing are emerging areas for cooperation and could align with global trends, benefitting both our countries.
Cultural exchanges flourished last year, with events showcasing Slovak art, music, and traditions in India, and vice versa. Indian culture – including dance, yoga, and cuisine – is highly appreciated in Slovakia. More than 600 Indian students are exploring study opportunities in Slovakia. Indian tourists are discovering Slovakia’s rich history and nature, while Slovak travellers are drawn to India’s cultural diversity, history and nature. The Indian community in Slovakia is small but active, contributing to stronger social ties.
You visited India from March 17; can you share some of the key objectives and goals of your visit?
This year, I participated at the important geopolitical conference Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi with my high-level business delegation. Slovakia would like to continue engaging with India in high-level discussions to reinforce bilateral political dialogue, reaffirming Slovakia’s support also for deeper EU-India relations and working together on shared global priorities like climate change, sustainable development and regional stability. I also held bilateral talks with my Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar. We both confirmed the intensive political dialogue that is now gaining importance and bringing tangible results.
I also re-opened the Honorary Consulate of the Slovak Republic in Kolkata on this occasion. Experienced businessman Vivek Lohia, a member of important chambers of commerce and industry in India and, above all, the executive director of the Indian company Jupiter Wagons Limited, which is a major partner of the Slovak Tatravagónka Poprad, became the honorary consul.
Expanding Economic and Trade Partnerships by promoting of Slovak industries, especially in automotive, green energy, and smart technologies and attracting Indian investors to Slovakia’s innovation and manufacturing sectors is our primary and long-term goal. That´s wey the largest Slovak business delegation travelled to India with me. Several business forums and B2B were organised in Delhi and Kolkata in cooperation with local chambers of commerce like The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and many others.
During your last visits to India, several discussions were held on enhancing cooperation between the two nations. Could you provide an overview of the outcomes from your visits and how they have impacted Slovakia?
We have left a significant mark, and the Slovak Republic is spoken of as a country that can be a gateway for investors to the European Union. My previous visit to India in 2024 and my last visit in 2025 brought several important outcomes, strengthening bilateral relations and opened new avenues for cooperation between our countries. It laid a solid foundation for a more dynamic and forward-looking partnership between Slovakia and India, with plenty of room for growth in key sectors.
I am very happy that in 2024 our business crossed for the first time in the history one billion euros, precisely1, 2 bn euro, which however is still under our possibilities and potential. Agreements were reached in trade and investments, particularly in sectors like automotive, defence, green energy and digital technologies. Traditionally, we sought Indian investments, but nowadays, Slovak investors are more engaged in India than ever before. Biofuel plant is being constructed in Uttar Pradesh and railway manufacturing facilities worth several thousand crores rupees are being set up in Odisha and West Bengal by Slovak companies. Those investments are creating thousands of jobs in India.
Slovakia wants to expand business and investment opportunities for both Indian entrepreneurs in Slovakia and Slovak companies in India. To boost the economic cooperation, the 12th round of Indo-Slovak Joint Economic Committee was held this February in Delhi and more than 15 Slovak small and medium-sized companies took part in the 25th International Engineering and Technology Fair at Pragati Maidan. Our cooperation goes beyond trade and investment, and we are exploring opportunities in new technologies, innovation, artificial intelligence and R&D.
The largest Indian investment in Europe, worth 1.4 billion euros, is the Jaguar Land Rover car manufacturer located in Slovakia, owned by the Indian Tata Group. And several other investments are also being prepared in Slovakia.
Slovakia and India are also linked by education. Slovak universities and research institutions are increasingly connecting with Indian counterparts, focusing on areas such as renewable energy, robotics, and artificial intelligence. For example, Slovak Technical University in Košice cooperates closely with their partner universities in Prayagraj and Silcharin areas like smart industry, autonomous mobility and drone self-organization. I firmly believe that the youth of Slovakia and India will play a pivotal role in strengthening this partnership and creating a sustainable, inclusive future.
In order to explore more opportunities in the area of education, a delegation of Slovak universities, headed by the State Secretary of the Ministry of Education, also visited India and set up a national stall at the Asia-Pacific Exhibition and Conference on Higher Education at the International Convention Centre in Dwarka.
Slovakia and India both offer unique economic opportunities for each other. How do you think Slovakia can attract more Indian investments, and in what sectors do you see the most potential for collaboration?
Investing in Slovakia is beneficial for many reasons. Firstly, it is integrated into all significant organizations such as European Union – and is part of Eurozone and Schengen area -OECD, WTO and NATO. Euro simplifies trade, and Schengen area simplifies the travelling of Indians across European countries.
Given its position in the heart of Europe, entering the Slovak market also provides access to over 740 million potential clients within 2,000 km radius. Slovakia is one of the safest and most politically stable countries in Europe. It has the highest value added per employee in the Central and Eastern European region, thanks to its cost-effective labour force and high-quality production. It is alsoranked among the top 18 leaders in automation.
Slovakia adopted countless new measures and mechanisms for improving investment environment such as reduction of bureaucracy, tax super-deduction for R&D projects, educational dual system, an action plan for R&D strategy with new measures aiming to boost the innovations and most recently, there has been a new incentives scheme for sectors crucial in transition to carbon free economy.
India’s growing start-up ecosystem, especially in fintech, AI, and med-tech, could offer opportunities for Slovakia to attract Indian entrepreneurs. Slovakia’s strategic location in the EU and R&D incentives could be better promoted here.
In today’s rapidly changing global landscape, how important is India as a strategic partner for Slovakia in terms of addressing global challenges such as climate change, multilateralism, or international security?
India is an increasingly important strategic partner for Slovakia, especially in addressing global challenges like climate change, multilateralism, and international security. As a rising global power with a strong voice in international forums, India brings valuable perspectives and capabilities that align with Slovakia’s priorities within the EU and on the global stage.
Slovakia, with its expertise in green technologies and energy-efficient solutions, can cooperate with India on sustainable development, sharing innovations and jointly advocating for stronger climate policies.
Both countries share a commitment to a rules-based international order and the importance of strengthening institutions like the United Nations.As an EU member, Slovakia, can support India’s push for UN Security Council reforms and work together on shaping global responses to development, human rights, and global health crises. Since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine Slovakia has played an important role also in helping more than 1.400 Indian students fleeing the war, facilitating their safe transit through Košice airport.
India, on the other hand, is a key player in ensuring stability in the Indo-Pacific, a region of growing geopolitical importance. While Slovakia is nota direct actor in this region, it can contribute through EU-India security dialogues, cybersecurity cooperation, and by supporting initiatives for counterterrorism, maritime security, and peacekeeping. People-to-people contacts, educational exchanges, and cultural diplomacy can help foster greater understanding and cooperation.
I´d like to thank our Indian partners for the cooperation so far, and I am confident that our relations will continue to grow, contributing to the peace and prosperity for both of our nations.
Cultural exchange play an important role in international diplomacy. How do you think cultural ties between Slovakia and India can be strengthened in the future?
I am particularly proud that Slovak art and music is being appreciated in India, while Indian culture continues to find a warm reception in Slovakia. In the framework of the Cultural Exchange Program, various Slovak folklore ensembles performed last year in different Indian cities including Delhi, Varanasi, Lucknow, Kolkata and Vadodara. Slovak films were screened at the International Film Festivals in Goa, Delhi and Chennai.
Indian culture in Slovakia is gaining attention and Upanishads have been translated into Slovak language for the first time. This reflects the increasing popularity of Indian culture in Slovakia and the same has been highlighted also by honourable Prime Minister N. Modi in his Mann Ki Baat radio program. To accelerate our cultural exchanges, Slovak Cultural Days will be held in November in Delhi, with Slovak musicians and handicrafts producers also taking part in the event.
Would you like to give any message to our Envoy Excellency readers?
I would like to emphasize tourism, as it is an untapped area with great potential. Slovakia is still largely unknown to Indian tourists, and we would like to work on that and promote our beautiful country. An effective way to do this could also be introducing Slovakia through film and cooperation in movie production. If you’re looking for Bollywood movies that were shot in Slovakia, there is the drama Chehre, starring Amitabh Bachchan, which introduced scenes filmed in the High Tatras mountains. Slovakia has beautiful naturel and scapes, scattered with historical castles and fortresses, enchanting caves, has good quality of infrastructure and services –this makes it not only great for tourism but also an ideal location for movies production.
You can see countless wonders of Slovakia in just a few days. The UNESCO World Heritage site Spiš Castle is one of the largest castles in the world. Nearby, you can find the highest wooden Gothic altar in the world, as well as the largest wooden, hand-carved Bethlehem set in Europe. With over 1 600 mineral springs Slovakia is also known for the healing properties, spas, countless exceptional wineries, many regional restaurants, all intertwined with presentation of historic handicrafts, traditions, and folklore. I invite all of you to see these wonders through your own eyes, while travelling to Slovakia.