EAM JAISHANKAR MEETS PORTUGAL PM, DISCUSSES CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES

Jaishankar arrived in Lisbon as the initial stop on his four-day tour of Portugal and Italy, with the objective of strengthening India's bilateral relations with these significant European nations.

- 

Dr. S Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, engaged with the top leadership of Portugal, including Prime Minister Antonio Costa, to explore avenues for strengthening India's relations with this pivotal southern European nation. The discussions spanned various domains, such as defense, trade, investment, tourism, and direct air connectivity.

During the meeting, Jaishankar mentioned the review of the implementation of the "agreement for the recruitment of Indian citizens to work in Portugal," emphasizing the development of a standard operating procedure and a forthcoming pilot project. He highlighted the intent to celebrate the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Portugal in 2025, underlining the significant progress and enthusiasm witnessed across several sectors, with trade and investment playing a pivotal role.

India's collaboration with Portugal has been marked by the notable presence of Indian IT companies in the Portuguese landscape. Speaking in a joint press statement with Portugal's Foreign Minister, Joao Cravinho, Jaishankar also delved into discussions about cooperation in defense, start-ups, innovation, and the prospect of direct air connectivity, which both nations viewed as a missing piece in their relationship.