Jaishankar Hails Czech National Day, Vows to Boost Innovation Ties
EAM S Jaishankar reaffirms India's commitment to a strategic partnership on innovation with the Czech Republic on its National Day.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has extended his warm greetings to the government and people of the Czech Republic on the occasion of their National Day, using the moment to reaffirm India's dedication to a deepening strategic partnership centered on innovation.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Minister Jaishankar addressed his wishes to the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Petr Macinka, emphasizing a shared commitment to strengthening ties that push the boundaries of technology and creative industrial solutions.
A Renewed Push for Industrial Cooperation
These diplomatic greetings arrive at a time of intensified engagement between New Delhi and Prague. Both nations are actively seeking to expand their cooperation across economic, technological, and industrial landscapes, with officials exploring a wide array of collaborative opportunities.
A significant step in this renewed engagement occurred on October 15, when Karel Havlíček, the First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, visited Bengaluru. During his trip, Havlíček met with Shantanu Roy, the Chairman and Managing Director of BEML Ltd, at the company's headquarters.
Focus on Advanced Manufacturing
The discussions between Havlíček and Roy were centered on creating robust industry-to-industry partnerships and enhancing technology collaboration. Key highlights of the meeting included:
- BEML's Expertise: Shantanu Roy showcased BEML's strengths in aerospace, defence, and advanced engineering, with a heavy emphasis on indigenous technology and globally competitive manufacturing.
- Czech Strengths: Minister Havlíček detailed the Czech Republic's prowess in precision engineering, automotive components, industrial machinery, machine tools, and applied research.
The two leaders explored how Czech industrial expertise could integrate with India's rapidly growing manufacturing ecosystem, particularly within the priority sectors of Karnataka.
Expanding the Investment Horizon in Karnataka
The diplomatic and industrial push extended to the state level, where Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar met with the Czech delegation at Vidhana Soudha.
While Bengaluru remains a primary hub, Shivakumar urged Czech enterprises to look beyond the city and explore investment opportunities across various other districts of Karnataka. He positioned the state as a reliable, long-term partner for the Czech Republic.
The Deputy CM specifically pointed toward high-growth opportunities in several key sectors, including:
- Electric Vehicles (EVs) and automobile components
- Aerospace and Defence
- Precision engineering and advanced manufacturing
- Energy sectors
"Karnataka will be a long-term partner of the Czech Republic and Czech companies should invest not just in Bengaluru but across various districts of Karnataka," Shivakumar stated during the meeting.