India and Cyprus on Friday strengthened their bilateral partnership by exchanging a series of agreements covering counter-terrorism, innovation and technology, higher education, research, and cultural cooperation during high-level talks held in New Delhi. The discussions marked a significant step in expanding ties between the two countries amid evolving geopolitical and economic realities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi held wide-ranging talks with Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, focusing on enhancing cooperation across multiple sectors and reinforcing engagement in regional and global forums.
Among the major outcomes of the meeting was the decision to establish a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, reflecting growing cooperation on security-related challenges. The two countries also signed agreements aimed at boosting collaboration in innovation and technology, academic exchanges, scientific research, and cultural initiatives.
In his joint press statement, Prime Minister Modi described the India-Cyprus relationship as “strong and future-oriented,” underlining the steady growth in economic and strategic cooperation between the two nations. He noted that investment flows from Cyprus into India have nearly doubled over the past decade, showcasing rising confidence among investors and businesses.
The Prime Minister highlighted the growing opportunities emerging from the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, stating that expanding India-EU engagement has opened new avenues for economic partnerships. He added that both countries have now set an ambitious target to double bilateral investment flows again within the next five years.
Modi also emphasized that Cyprus remains an important partner for India in the Mediterranean region and within the European Union framework. The discussions reflected a shared commitment to deepen cooperation in trade, technology, connectivity, education, and people-to-people ties.
President Christodoulides said that bilateral relations between India and Cyprus, as well as relations between India and the European Union, have witnessed significant progress over the past year. He praised the growing momentum in cooperation and stressed the importance of strengthening engagement in areas of common interest.
Earlier in the day, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar called on the visiting Cypriot President and discussed ways to further deepen bilateral ties. In a social media post, Jaishankar said he appreciated the “positive sentiments and guidance” offered by the Cypriot leadership for enhancing India-Cyprus relations and India-EU cooperation.
President Christodoulides is currently on a four-day visit to India, aimed at expanding strategic, economic, and diplomatic engagement between the two countries. As part of the visit, he is also scheduled to meet President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan later in the evening.
The visit is being seen as an important milestone in India’s outreach to Europe and the Mediterranean region, with both sides seeking stronger partnerships in trade, security, innovation, and multilateral diplomacy.
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