Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Austria will mark the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited the country in 41 years. The last visit was by Indira Gandhi in 1983.
Modi's official visit is scheduled for July 9-10 and coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Austria.
Jawaharlal Nehru visited Austria in 1955, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1949.
"India and Austria have had a regular exchange of visits including at the level of leaders, ministers and parliamentarians highlighting the importance that both countries accord to further strengthening their relations," according to a profile of India-Austria bilateral relations put up on the Ministry of External Affairs website.
It also shares the history of PM-level and President-level visits from India to Austria.
It said that then-prime minister Indira Gandhi visited Austria in 1971, which was followed by the visit of then-Austrian chancellor Bruno Kreisky in 1980. Gandhi's visit in 1983 was followed by the visit of then-chancellor Fred Sinowatz in 1984.
Gandhi was in Vienna from June 16-18 during her 1983 visit, and people familiar with the matter said,
While India has not had prime ministerial visits since Indira Gandhi's visit, there have been President-level visits.
According to the profile on the MEA website, President KR Narayanan visited Austria in 1999, then President Heinz Fischer in 2005, Austrian Vice Chancellor Josef Proll in 2010, and President Pratibha Devisingh Patil in 2011.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra briefed the media on Friday about Prime Minister Modi's upcoming tour to Russia and Austria from July 8 to 10.
The official visit to Moscow by the prime minister is scheduled for July 8-9, following an invitation from Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit.
The second part of the trip involves Modi's visit to Austria on July 9-10, which is being arranged at the invitation of the Chancellor of Austria.
"This will be Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first visit to Austria. Prime Minister had met then Austrian Chancellor, who's now the Foreign Minister, His Excellency Schallenberg, in October 2021 on the sidelines of COP26 in Glasgow.
"The last prime ministerial visit from India to Austria took place more than 40 years ago," the foreign secretary said.
During his visit, Modi will call on the President of Austria and "hold restricted delegation-level talks as also a high-level business engagement in Austria", in addition to interacting with the Indian community in Vienna.
Kwatra said Austria offers "excellent opportunities" for bilateral cooperation in infrastructure, renewable energy, high-tech areas, start-up sectors, media, and entertainment.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Austria from December 31, 2022, to January 3, 2023.
During the trip, he had meetings with Austrian Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen, Chancellor Karl Nehammer, and President of the National Council Wolfgang Sobotka.
He engaged in talks with the Austrian Foreign Minister, Alexander Schallenberg, along with a delegation.
Additionally, five agreements were signed during the visit, as mentioned in the bilateral relations profile dated June 2023.
During Austrian Foreign Minister Schallenberg's visit to India in 2022, both ministers had discussed the "entire gamut of bilateral relations, including political, economic, commercial and consular ties".
Before his trip to Austria, Prime Minister Modi stated on Sunday that the common principles of democracy, freedom, and the rule of law are the foundation for the two nations to establish a stronger partnership.
Modi's remark came a day after Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer posted on 'X', "I very much look forward to welcoming Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, the world's largest democracy, next week in Vienna." "This visit is a special honour as it marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister in over 40 years and a significant milestone as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations with India," he said.
"We will have the opportunity to talk about further deepening our bilateral relationship and closer cooperation on the many geopolitical challenges," the Austrian chancellor said.
Responding to Nehammer, Modi said, "Thank you, Chancellor Karl Nehammer. It is indeed an honour to visit Austria to mark this historic occasion.
"I look forward to our discussions on strengthening the bonds between our nations and exploring new avenues of cooperation." Austria is known for its rich cultural and architectural heritage with Vienna renowned for its legacy of orchestral music and legendary composers.
"The visit of India's philosopher-poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore twice to Vienna -- in 1921 and 1926 -- was one of the crucial bridges of cultural and intellectual exchange between India and Austria," the MEA website said.
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