“In the last year, our relationship has seen a huge upswing. It’s not often that we can say we had such a rapid exchange of Prime Ministerial visits. We have strong political comfort and people-to-people understanding. We would like more trade, more investment, more technological collaboration, and perhaps explore ways to work together on connectivity,” Jaishankar remarked.

Greek Foreign Minister Gerapetritis expressed Greece’s readiness to enhance bilateral relations across various sectors, including tourism, culture, and trade. He emphasized that the two countries have made significant strides in recent years and that Greece is keen on strengthening cooperation, particularly within the framework of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), where both nations are members.

“In the last couple of years, the bilateral relations between Greece and India have been upscaled tremendously. We would like to upscale our bilateral relations in all respects, including tourism, culture, and trade. As members of the UNSC, we would like to echo the voice of India within the United Nations,” Gerapetritis said. “We would also like to be reliable interlocutors in the EU-India relationship. It is a unique opportunity for us as we celebrate 75 years of diplomatic relations,” he added.

The Greek Foreign Minister’s visit to India is part of efforts to deepen diplomatic and strategic ties between the two countries. On Wednesday, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also welcomed Gerapetritis, noting that his visit would further strengthen the growing strategic partnership between India and Greece.

India and Greece have maintained a long-standing relationship, supporting each other on key international issues such as Kashmir and Cyprus. Greece has consistently aligned with India on the Kashmir issue and supported India’s bid for a permanent seat in an expanded UNSC.

The Indian community in Greece, which has steadily grown over the years, also plays a vital role in fostering people-to-people connections. According to the 2011 Greek census, there were around 11,333 Indian nationals in Greece, with current estimates ranging between 13,000 and 14,000. The majority of these expatriates are of Punjabi origin, particularly Sikhs, and are engaged in farming, construction, and manufacturing sectors.

Gerapetritis’ visit is expected to further cement India-Greece ties, with an emphasis on expanding collaboration in strategic, economic, and diplomatic areas.

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PM Modi emphasized that the budget shifts the focus from government revenue generation to boosting individual savings and encouraging public participation in economic development. He noted, “Usually, the focus of the budget is on how the government treasury will be filled, but this budget is exactly the opposite of that.” He highlighted the aim of the budget to empower citizens to contribute to the nation’s economic growth.

The Prime Minister also praised the reforms in the budget, particularly the encouragement of private sector involvement in nuclear energy. “Encouraging the private sector in nuclear energy is historic,” he remarked, recognizing the significance of nuclear energy in advancing the country’s development.

Furthermore, PM Modi acknowledged the employment-centric policies introduced in the budget, pointing out that it prioritizes job creation across various sectors. He highlighted the infrastructure status for shipbuilding, which is expected to promote large-scale construction and support the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

Tourism, a sector with immense potential, also received attention. PM Modi announced plans for building hotels at 50 major tourist destinations, reinforcing the idea that tourism and hospitality will be crucial in generating employment. He concluded that by categorizing hotels under infrastructure, the budget would enhance the sector and create more job opportunities for the workforce.

Overall, the Union Budget 2025 represents a decisive step toward inclusive growth, with a particular focus on empowering individuals, boosting employment, and facilitating sustainable development across sectors.

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