India and Portugal are set to strengthen their historical ties and strong diaspora connections during President Droupadi Murmu’s State Visit to Portugal from April 7 to 8. The visit comes at the invitation of Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and marks the first presidential visit from India to Portugal in 27 years.

The visit also coincides with the 50th anniversary of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The last Indian presidential visit to Portugal was by President K. R. Narayanan in 1998.

“It is a very symbolic and landmark visit,” said Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), during a media briefing. He noted the recent momentum in high-level engagements, with visits by both Prime Ministers and President Sousa’s visit to India in 2020.

India and Portugal enjoy a friendly bilateral relationship, now evolved into a multifaceted partnership spanning trade, energy, education, technology, and defence. The visit aims to provide renewed momentum to this dynamic cooperation.

President Murmu will meet Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, Prime Minister Luis Montenegro, and the President of the Portuguese Parliament, Jose Pedro Aguiar-Branco. Discussions will focus on bilateral ties and broader collaborations, including the India-EU partnership.

Portugal has played a pivotal role in India-EU relations, having hosted the first India-EU Summit in 2000 and the India-EU Leaders’ Summit in 2021 during its EU Presidency.

Portugal was also the first European nation to sign a Migration and Mobility Agreement with India. Bilateral trade currently stands at around $1.5 billion, with significant growth over the past five years. Key areas of cooperation include renewable energy, IT, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and defence.

India is also an associate member of the Community of Portuguese-Speaking Countries (CPLP), further strengthening cultural and regional ties.

Following the Portugal visit, President Murmu will travel to Slovakia from April 9-10 — the first visit by an Indian President to the country in 29 years.

In Slovakia, she will hold talks with President Peter Pellegrini, Prime Minister Robert Fico, and the Speaker of the National Council, Richard Rasi. The visit marks 30 years since India established its embassy in Bratislava in 1995.

Bilateral exchanges between the two countries have increased recently, with foreign ministers from Slovakia visiting India in 2023 and 2024, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visiting Bratislava in 2023.

Slovakian businesses have invested in India in sectors such as steel manufacturing, IT hardware, railways, and defence. Notably, a Slovak satellite was launched aboard India’s PSLV rocket in 2017.

During both visits, President Murmu will also engage with members of the Indian diaspora in Portugal and Slovakia, further reinforcing people-to-people ties.