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Domestic carrier IndiGo on Monday said it will deploy its maiden Airbus A321 XLR aircraft, which is scheduled to be delivered by the end of this year, on its Athens, Greece route from January next year. The Gurugram-based airline had earlier this year announced that it would launch its flight services to 10 international destinations this financial year. IndiGo is all set to bring home India's first A321XLR by the end of 2025, and begin six weekly direct flights to Athens by early January 2026, subject to regulatory approval, the airline said in a statement. This will make IndiGo the only Indian carrier to offer direct flights between India and Greece, it said, adding that on the receipt of the appropriate approvals, the airline intends to connect Athens to both Delhi and Mumbai, with operations of three weekly nonstops on both routes. The next-generation narrow-body A321 XLR is designed for longer ranges, allowing IndiGo to expand deeper into Europe, while maintaining the ...
The Indian Air Force (IAF) will participate in a 12-day mega wargame in Greece beginning Monday that is aimed at simulating modern-day air warfare challenges. The assets deployed by the IAF for the biennial INIOCHOS-25 exercise at the Andravida air base include Su-30 MKI fighter jets along with combat enabler IL-78 and C-17 Globemaster aircraft. "The exercise will further reinforce India's strategic partnerships-and bolster its capabilities in joint operations with friendly nations," the IAF said on Sunday. The exercise, being hosted by the Hellenic air force, will take place from March 31 to April 11. It serves as a platform for air forces to hone their skills, exchange tactical knowledge, and strengthen military ties. "The exercise will integrate multiple air and surface assets from fifteen countries under realistic combat scenarios, designed to simulate modern-day air warfare challenges," the IAF said in a statement on Sunday. "The IAF looks forward to participating in Exercis
External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar met with Greece's Foreign Minister, George Gerapetritis, on Thursday to discuss ways to advance the multifaceted relationship between the two countries.The discussions focused on key areas such as shipping, trade, investment, connectivity, culture, mobility, and artificial intelligence. Jaishankar stressed that the India-Middle East Economic Corridor (IMEC) and the India-Mediterranean connect would be the major focus of the next phase of India-Greece relations.Jaishankar also assured India's "fullest support" to Greece during its non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for 2025-26.In a post on X, Jaishankar said, "Delighted to meet my friend FM George Gerapetritis of Greece this evening in Delhi. Held a very productive conversation on advancing our multifaceted relations, focusing on shipping, trade & investment, connectivity, mobility, AI and cultural ties. Also discussed IMEC and India-Mediterranean ...
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Greece counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis have appreciated the momentum in bilateral ties following recent high-level exchanges. An official statement said on Saturday that the two leaders reiterated their firm commitment to further strengthening the India-Greece strategic partnership. In his call to Modi, Mitsotakis warmly congratulated him on his re-election in the general elections. They reviewed the progress in a number of areas of bilateral cooperation, including trade, defence, shipping and connectivity, in a follow-up to Mitsotakis's visit to India earlier this year. The two leaders also exchanged views on various regional and global issues of interest, including the IMEEC (India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor) and developments in West Asia, the statement said.
Greece and India have a "lot of complementarities" in shipping, pharma and other sectors, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Thursday as he emphasised that his country is the natural entry point for Indian companies to tap the European market. Addressing the 'India-Greece Business Forum', organised by FICCI and Enterprise Greece here, he said Greece and India have a "lot of complementarities" in shipping, pharma, such as defence, drones, agriculture, information and communication technology, tourism. He said "we expect to make concrete announcements very soon regarding the signing of the mobility migration agreement, enabling more Indian labour to come to Greece in an organised manner". On a sector-to-sector approach, the prime minister said, "You will realise that there's a lot of complementarities between sectors where Greece has a comparative advantage and where India is also quite strong." "I can see interesting natural synergies emerging in the technology space,"
The strategic partnership between India and Greece is of "particular" importance and further expansion of their overall ties with a focus on economic engagement is being explored, Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said on Wednesday. Mitsotakis is on a two-day visit to India. It is the first visit to India by a head of state of Greece in 15 years. "For Greece, the strategic partnership between our two countries is of particular importance and we will have the opportunity to discuss a wide range of topics including on strategic partnership, and fostering our economic engagement," he told reporters. Mitsotakis was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan ahead of his talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the morning, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on the Greek prime minister. "Delighted to call on Prime Minister @kmitsotakis of Greece today. Valued his commitment to enhancing India-Greece ties. Look forward to the strengthe
Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew down to Bengaluru on Saturday morning directly from the Greek capital of Athens to congratulate and interact with ISRO scientists involved in the Chandrayaan-3 mission to the Moon. Modi is slated to visit ISRO Telemetry Tracking and Command Network (ISTRAC) here, where he would be briefed by top ISRO officials about the progress of the country's third Lunar venture. "Landed in Bengaluru. Looking forward to interacting with our exceptional @isro scientists who have made India proud with the success of Chandrayaan-3! Their dedication and passion are truly the driving forces behind our nation's achievements in the space sector," the PM said in a post on 'X'. The Prime Minister returned after concluding his four-day tour of South Africa and Greece. In Johannesburg, Modi attended the 15th BRICS Summit from August 22 to 24. "He (Modi) reached Bengaluru directly after his visit to South Africa and Greece", an official said. On Wednesday evening as the
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday concluded his successful visit to Greece after meeting the country's top leadership to elevate ties to the level of strategic partnership and agreeing to double the bilateral trade by 2030. Modi, who arrived here after attending the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on the first visit to Greece by an Indian prime minister in 40 years, also said that both sides decided to expand cooperation in areas of defence and security, infrastructure, agriculture, education and new and emerging technologies. "PM @narendramodi emplanes for India after successfully concluding his first ever visit to Greece and elevating India-Greece ties to Strategic Partnership'," the Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a post on X. "This Greece visit is a very special one. It will add great momentum to India-Greece friendship, particularly people-to-people linkages," Modi posted on X. "I also had a very memorable interaction with the dynamic Indian .
Artworks and traditional items reflecting the diversity and richness of Indian heritage were the gifts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's choice for a number of world leaders during his visit to Johannesburg for the BRICS summit and then to Greece. He presented a pair of 'surahi' from Telangana to South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and a Nagaland shawl to his wife and first lady of the host country, officials said. They noted that the 'bidri vase' is a purely Indian innovation exclusive to Bidar, a Karnataka city. It is cast with an alloy of zinc, copper and other non-ferrous metals. Pretty patterns are engraved on the casting and inlaid with pure silver wire. The casting is then soaked in a solution mixed with the special soil of Bidar Fort which has special oxidising properties, they noted. This causes the zinc alloy to turn into a lustrous black, leaving the silver inlay intact to contrast stunningly with the black background, they added. The gift also carried silver ...
India and Greece on Friday elevated their ties to the level of strategic partnership with Prime Minister Naredra Modi and his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis resolving to give a new momentum to the relationship, especially in areas of defence and security, trade and emerging technologies. Modi said both sides also set a target of doubling bilateral trade by 2030 and decided to firm up a migration and mobility partnership pact soon to facilitate skilled migration between the two countries. "Prime Minister Mitsotakis and I decided to take India-Greece relations to the level of strategic partnership," Modi said after his talks with his Greek counterpart. In his media statement, the prime minister said that it was agreed that there should be an institutional dialogue framework between India and Greece at the level of national security advisors. "We have decided to boost cooperation in areas of defence and security, infrastructure, education, new and emerging technologies, and ...
Beginning his official engagements during a day-long official visit to Greece, Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid a wreath at the Tomb of Unknown Soldier in Athens on Friday.Prime Minister Modi also received a guard of honour following the wreath-laying ceremony.PM Modi on Friday arrived in Greece for his maiden visit at the invitation of his Greek counterpart Kyriakos Mitsotakis. At the Athens International Airport, PM Modi was received by Greek Foreign Minister George Gerapetritis.He received a rousing welcome upon his arrival at the Hotel Grande Bretagne with the Indian Community gathered at the hotel breaking out into chants of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai,' 'Modi, Modi.'The members of the Indian Community were ween waiving the tricolour and some of them were also beating drums to mark PM Modi's visit, the first Indian Prime Minister in the last 40 years to visit the country.At the hotel, PM Modi interacted with children and their parents. A little girl offered PM Modi a Greek headdress and