30 Oct 2024        11:52:03 am

Current Affairs

India-Greece Relations

Tags : India-Greece Relations

Topic: Europe

Why in the news?

• India and Greece discussed avenues for cross-training in niche technologies and advanced courses, as well as ways to strengthen strategic and operational ties, during the Navy chief’s just concluded visit to Greece.

Source: The Hindu 

About India-Greece Relations:

• Historical Linkages
  • India’s contacts with Greece began over 2500 years ago. Trading between the Mauryan Kings and Greece is evidenced by coinage and writings. 
  • In 326 BC, Alexander’s expedition led him to the North-Western part of the Indian subcontinent as far as the Hyphasis (Beas River), where he fought with Raja Puru, King of Pauravaa - between the Jhelum and Chenab), and Ambhi who ruled at Taxila.
  • Chanakya, in Chandragupta’s Court records in Arthashastra about Yavan, Ambassador in the Kings’ court, named Megasthenes.
  • Gandhara art is believed to be a fusion of Indian and Greek influences.
• Political linkages
  • Diplomatic relations were established between the two countries in May 1950. Greece opened its Embassy in Delhi in 1950 and India in Athens in 1978.
  • The relationship was elevated to ‘strategic partnership’ during Modi’s visit to Greece in August 2023.
• Trade & Commerce
  • Two-way trade has grown to $1.94 billion in 2022-23.
  • The main export items from India to Greece are aluminum, organic chemicals; fish and crustaceans; iron and steel; plastic; textile articles etc.
  • The main import items from Greece are aluminium foil; mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation; sulphur; lime and cement etc.
• Defence Cooperation
  • It received an impetus after the visit of Raksha Mantri (RM) to Greece in 1994. Since then, the two countries regularly cooperate with each other on defense related matters.
• Science & Technology
  • With the aim of encouraging and supporting cooperation in the field of science and technology, the Agreement on Science & Technology was signed in April 2007.
  • A team of 7 scientists from ISRO/DoS participated in the 44th Committee on Space Research (COSPAR) assembly at Athens in July, 2022.
  • On the sidelines, opportunities for cooperation in Space between India and Greece were explored.
• Cultural cooperation
  • Dimitrios Galanos (a Greek), became the first European Indologist gaining world reputation.
    • His translations of Sanskrit texts into Greek made knowledge of the philosophical and religious ideas of India available to many Europeans.
    • A \"Dimitrios Galanos\" Chair for Hellenic Studies has been established at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India in September 2000.
  • Nicholas Kazanas, a distinguished Greek Indologist, was declared as one of the awardees of the prestigious Padma Shri award on the occasion of the 72nd Republic Day of India 2021.
• Indian Community at Greece
  • According to the 2011 Greek census, the number of Indian people is 11,333. Currently, they are estimated to be between 13000-14000.
  • They are predominantly from Punjab and largely Sikhs.

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