Slovakia and India have taken a significant step toward strengthening their economic partnership with the convening of the Slovak-Indian Business Forum, held on April 10, 2025 in Bratislava during the historic state visit of Indian President Droupadi Murmu to Slovakia. The event, hosted at the Congress Hall of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs in Bratislava, brought together over 60 Slovak enterprises and 25 Indian companies across sectors such as information and communication technologies, artificial intelligence, defense, mechanical engineering, and industry.
Organized collaboratively by the Slovak Investment and Trade Development Agency (SARIO), the Slovak Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Economy, and the Office of the President of the Slovak Republic, the forum was coordinated on the Indian side by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), with support from ASSOCHAM and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The forum featured addresses by President Murmu and Slovak President Peter Pellegrini, who both emphasized the importance of diversifying trade relations and exploring new avenues for collaboration. President Murmu highlighted India’s rapid economic transformation and invited Slovak companies to participate in initiatives like ‘Make in India,’ noting that India’s skilled workforce could be a valuable asset to Slovakia’s economy.
A key outcome of the forum was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Slovak company ROLUS s.r.o. and Indian partners Texmaco Defence Systems Pvt. Ltd. and JCBL Ltd., signaling a strong interest in long-term cooperation between the business communities of both countries.
The event also included presentations on business and investment opportunities in both countries, and approximately 170 B2B meetings were held between Slovak and Indian partners. SARIO arranged site visits for the Indian delegation to Slovak companies operating in defense, renewable energy, and information and communication technology sectors.
This forum builds upon previous efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, including business missions to India organized by SARIO in February and March 2025. With bilateral trade reaching €1.3 billion in 2024, both nations see significant potential for growth in areas such as automotive, engineering, defense, railway infrastructure, green energy, tourism, smart solutions, innovation, and academia.
President Murmu’s visit, the first by an Indian head of state to Slovakia in nearly three decades, underscores the commitment of both countries to deepen their economic and cultural ties. The forum serves as a platform to explore synergies and build mutually beneficial partnerships, aiming to convert opportunities into concrete results.
