India, Croatia chart new course in trade & tech ties

Metro India News | NEW DELHI

India and Croatia on Wednesday agreed to inject fresh momentum into their growing bilateral partnership, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković holding wide-ranging talks in the national capital. The discussions focused on expanding cooperation in technology, innovation, shipbuilding, the blue economy, logistics and connectivity, while also backing progress on the long-pending India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

In a post on X after the meeting, Modi described the talks as “fruitful” and said both leaders explored ways to strengthen ties in high-potential sectors. He also thanked Plenković for his personal support for the India-EU FTA, noting that the agreement would bring unprecedented progress and opportunities for citizens and businesses across India and Europe.

Plenković, who had hosted Modi in Zagreb last year, said bilateral trade between the two countries grew by 10 per cent in the first 11 months of 2025. He underlined Croatia’s interest in deeper collaboration in maritime transport, logistics, digital transformation, defence and security. Calling India the world’s most populous country and an increasingly important global partner, he said political relations between the two nations are on a strong footing.

Connectivity emerged as a key theme during the talks. Croatia, which is currently chairing the Three Seas Initiative (3SI) and the EUMED9 group, highlighted its role as a Mediterranean gateway to central Europe. The 3SI, launched by Croatia and Poland in 2015-16, brings together 13 EU member states located between the Baltic, Adriatic and Black Seas, with a focus on infrastructure, energy and economic cooperation.

Plenković noted that Croatia’s geographic position offers unique opportunities to link the 3SI with the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), a strategic trade and connectivity project aimed at boosting commerce between Asia and Europe. Both sides expressed optimism that enhanced infrastructure and maritime cooperation could unlock new trade routes and supply chain efficiencies.

The Croatian leader’s visit also coincides with the AI Impact Summit-2026 at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, where over 500 global AI leaders, including CEOs, founders, researchers and policymakers, are participating. Plenković said his delegation would explore the transformative role of artificial intelligence in shaping modern economies and governance systems.

With trade rising and strategic corridors gaining traction, India and Croatia appear set to chart a more ambitious course in their bilateral engagement.