INDIA and Cyprus on Friday elevated their ties to a strategic partnership and unveiled a five-year roadmap for defence cooperation as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides. The two sides signed six agreements to provide for deeper cooperation in areas of innovation, technology, education and culture besides agreeing to soon conclude a comprehensive partnership on migration and mobility. The pacts firmed up included one on establishing a joint working group on counter-terrorism.

 

The talks between the two leaders primarily focused on boosting ties in trade and investment, critical technologies, education, and implementation of the ambitious India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. In his media statement, Modi highlighted that the strategic partnership will unlock commercial capital and open new avenues for Indian companies in Cyprus’s infrastructure, energy, and agriculture sectors, while simultaneously boosting investment in India’s booming shipping and maritime industries.

 

“The relationship between India and Cyprus has stood the test of time and again, with today’s decision to upgrade the ties to strategic partnership, we are going to give new ambition and new momentum to our relationship,” he said. Following the talks, the two sides also announced the establishment of a cyber security dialogue. Modi also referred to the upswing in India-Europe relationship and said it has entered a new golden era. “Cyprus not only currently holds the Presidency of the European Union Council, but is also emerging as an important investment gateway between India and the whole of Europe,” he said.