Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Austria, marking the first prime ministerial visit from India to the country in 41 years. The last was by Indira Gandhi in 1983. Modi’s official visit on July 9-10 coincides with the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Austria.
The first prime ministerial visit from India to Austria was by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1955, following the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1949.
India and Austria have maintained regular exchanges of visits, including at the level of leaders, ministers and parliamentarians, underscoring the significance of strengthening their relations. Previous PM-level and President-level visits from India to Austria have been noted. In 1971, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi visited Austria, followed by a visit from Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky in 1980. Subsequently, Gandhi’s visit in 1983 was followed by a visit from Austrian Chancellor Fred Sinowatz in 1984. During her 1983 visit, Gandhi was in Vienna from June 16-18. Following Gandhi’s visit, there have been President-level visits to Austria from India. President K R Narayanan visited in 1999, President Heinz Fischer visited in 2005, and Austrian Vice Chancellor Josef Proll in 2010. Additionally, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil visited in 2011. Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra recently briefed the media about Prime Minister Modi’s upcoming tour to Russia and Austria from July 8-10. During this time, the prime minister will also pay an official visit to Moscow on July 8-9 at the invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin for the 22nd India-Russia Annual Summit. In the second leg of the trip, Modi will be visiting Austria on July 9-10 at the invitation of the Chancellor of Austria.