At the invitation of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister (PM) of India, Pedro Sánchez, PM of Spain, along with his spouse Begona Gomez, visited India from 28th to 29th October 2024.
- PM Modi and Spain PM Pedro Sánchez, discussed a range of bilateral issues during delegation-level talks held at the Laxmi Vilas Palace in Vadodara, Gujarat.
- This was PM Sanchez’s 1st visit to India and the 1st visit by the PM of Spain to India after 18 years.
Highlights of the visit:
Pedro Sánchez was accompanied by the Óscar Puente Santiago, Minister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility and the Jordi Hereu i Boher, Minister of Industry and Tourism, and a high-level official and business delegation.
- Pedro Sánchez visited Mumbai and interacted with prominent business leaders, cultural figures and representatives of the Indian film industry.
Outcomes of Pedro Sanchez’s visit to India:
i.PM Modi and Pedro Sanchez, PM of Spain, jointly inaugurated the TATA Aircraft Complex for manufacturing C-295 aircraft at TATA Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) Campus in Vadodara, Gujarat.
ii.Announcement of the Year 2026 as India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial intelligence (AI).
iii.Setting up of Fast Track Mechanism in Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry(MoC&I) in India and in Directorate General of International Trade and Investment, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Business in Spain, for facilitating mutual investments in India and Spain.
iv.Both countries agreed to establish a Spanish Consulate in Bengaluru(Karnataka) and the operationalization of an Indian Consulate in Barcelona, Spain.
Points to note:
i.In the joint statement, PM Modi and PM of Spain, Pedro Sanchez agreed to strengthen cooperation in promoting sustainable energy and adapting to climate change.
ii.Spain has invited India to join the International Drought Resilience Alliance (IDRA), launched in 2022, to promote actions that reduce countries’ vulnerability to drought through preparedness and adaptation measures.
iii.PM Modi and President Sanchez reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the India-European Union (EU) Strategic Partnership and to advancing the EU-India triple negotiations of a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement, Investment Protection Agreement and Geographical Indications Agreement.
MoUs signed:
Tanmaya Lal, Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs(MEA), stated that multiple Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) were signed during the visit of Spain’s PM. He also informed that bilateral trade between India and Spain has reached USD 10 billion, and nearly 240 Spanish companies have a presence in India.
India & Spain signed several MoUs related to rail transport, customs, finance mechanisms for investment, and cultural exchanges.
- MoU on Cooperation in the field of Rail Transport.
- Agreement on Cooperation and Mutual Assistance in Customs Matters
- Cultural Exchange Programme for the years 2024-2028.
- Creation of Joint Mechanism under the Audio Visual Co-Production Agreement.
Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez Inaugurates 4th Spain-India Forum in Mumbai
Spain’s PM Pedro Sanchez inaugurated the fourth Spain-India Forum in Mumbai, Maharashtra on 29th October 2024. The theme of the 4th Spain-India forum was “Spain-India Partnership amid Geopolitical and Technological Challenges: New Horizons, New Possibilities.”
- The forum was organised by New Delhi(Delhi) based Observer Research Foundation and the Spain India Council Foundation.
- While addressing the forum, Spain PM highlighted the importance of focusing on areas such as the protection of civilians and the safeguarding of human rights in an era of increasing geopolitical tensions.
- He also stated that the need to address areas like digital technology and the potential risks posed by AI, calling for international cooperation in this field.
About Spain:
Prime Minister (PM) – Pedro Sánchez
Capital – Madrid
Currency – Euro
