During a business roundtable with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides, Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged the two countries to increase their cooperation in sectors including trade, investment, and defense. 

At the meeting, the prime minister, who had arrived earlier in the day, spoke to business executives from Cyprus and India.

"Further cementing investment, technology & business linkages," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a post on X.

"PM @narendramodi accompanied by President @Christodulides addressed a business roundtable, which saw participation by leading business leaders of Cyprus and Indian companies," he said.

"The leaders called for strengthening economic ties in the fields of trade, investment, financial services, fintech, start-up, innovation, AI, IT, logistics, defence, connectivity, shipping and mobility," he added.

Christodoulides made a particular gesture to greet him at the Larnaca International Airport upon his arrival.

In a video message on X ahead of the meeting, Jaiswal said that at the forum, "ideas about how to strengthen India-Cyprus business partnership in newer areas of engagement such as startup, innovation, digital payments, shipping, shipbuilding, ports etc will be identified, talked about, and discussed."

 

Modi's visit will "reaffirm the shared commitment of the two countries to deepen bilateral ties and strengthen India's engagement with the Mediterranean region and the European Union," according to a statement by the MEA.

The two presidents will also discuss ways to improve their bilateral relations while they are there.

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Bilateral trade between India and Cyprus has remained "steady amidst fluctuations" over recent years, and was USD 136.96 million for April 2023-March 2024, according to the MEA.