President Visit to the Slovak Republic | 16 Apr 2025

Source: PIB 

President Droupadi Murmu's visit to the Slovak Republic (also known as Slovakia) was the first visit by an Indian President in 29 years, aimed at enhancing bilateral relations. 

• President Droupadi Murmu was awarded the Doctorate Honoris Causa degree in Slovakia for her contributions to public service, women’s empowerment, and social justice. 
• India-Slovak Republic Relations:  
  • Trade Relations: Bilateral trade crossed 1.28 billion Euros in 2024, with India maintaining a favourable trade balance. 
    • India’s key exports to Slovakia include mobile phones, footwear, garments, motor vehicle parts, medicaments. 
    • Slovakia's major exports to India include motor vehicles, machinery, pumps, transmission shafts. 
    • A Joint Economic Committee (JEC) established in 1995 to enhance India-Slovakia commercial ties. 
  • Space Cooperation: The first Slovak satellite, SKcube, was launched on Indian PSLV-XL in 2017. 
  • Nuclear Cooperation: MOU signed on safe use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes between India and Slovakia. 
• Slovak Republic: It is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It borders Hungary to the south, Poland to the north, Czech Republic to the northwest, Austria to the west and Ukraine to the east.  
  • The Velvet Revolution (1989) ended communist rule in Czechoslovakia and led to the peaceful dissolution of the country into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993 (often referred to as the "Velvet Divorce"). 
  • Slovakia is a high-income developed economy with its capital at Bratislava and follows a parliamentary democratic republic system.