Modi, Austrian Chancellor Stocker elevate India-Austria ties with defence, tech, trade and education push

New Delhi, April 16. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Austrian Federal Chancellor Christian Stocker agreed to significantly expand the scope of India-Austria cooperation across defence, counter-terrorism, trade, innovation, education, and mobility during wide-ranging bilateral talks in New Delhi on April 16.

Chancellor Stocker, on his first visit to India from April 14 to 17, called on President Droupadi Murmu and held delegation-level talks with Prime Minister Modi, who also hosted a luncheon in his honour. The Austrian leader was accompanied by a high-level delegation that included Economy, Energy and Tourism Minister Wolfgang Hattmannsdorfer, senior officials, scientists and business leaders.

The two leaders reaffirmed the “deep and enduring friendship” between India and Austria rooted in democratic values, human rights, rule of law and mutual respect. They reviewed progress under the ‘Enhanced India-Austria Partnership’ launched during Prime Minister Modi’s historic visit to Austria in July 2024 – the first by an Indian prime minister in over four decades. Notably, Stocker’s trip is the first visit by an Austrian Chancellor to India in 42 years.

Defence, security and counter-terrorism cooperation deepened

Both leaders unequivocally condemned terrorism in all forms, including cross-border terrorism, and denounced the terror attacks in Pahalgam in April 2025 and near Red Fort in New Delhi in November 2025. They called for coordinated international action against terrorism, terror financing and radicalisation, including through mechanisms such as the United Nations and the Financial Action Task Force.

A Letter of Intent was signed to establish a Joint Working Group on Counter-Terrorism, while the two sides also agreed to launch an institutional Cybersecurity Dialogue to tackle emerging threats.

In a significant step in defence cooperation, India and Austria signed a Letter of Intent on Cooperation in Military Matters. The agreement will create a framework for defence industry partnerships, policy dialogue, training and capacity building, and complements the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership signed earlier this year. The two sides also welcomed plans for cooperation between India’s Centre for UN Peacekeeping and Austria’s AUTINT.

Trade, investment and innovation at the forefront

Highlighting the strong growth in bilateral trade, both leaders agreed that there is substantial potential to further expand economic ties. Austria considers India among its most important trading partners outside the EU.

They urged businesses to explore opportunities in advanced manufacturing, transport infrastructure, smart mobility, renewable energy, waste management and digital innovation. The leaders welcomed the recent conclusion of negotiations on the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA), with Modi appreciating Austria’s support for its early ratification.

To ease investment challenges, both sides agreed to establish a fast-track mechanism for addressing issues faced by companies and investors.

The leaders also welcomed progress under the India-Austria Startup Bridge and encouraged greater collaboration among startups, incubators, accelerators and venture capital networks.

Focus on infrastructure, renewable energy, space and aviation

Austria’s expertise in roads, railways, tunnelling and ropeways was identified as key to India’s infrastructure expansion. A renewed memorandum of understanding (MoU) on road infrastructure cooperation will see a joint working group meet later this year.

Modi highlighted India’s renewable energy expansion, opening avenues for Austrian firms in electric grids, pumped storage and green hydrogen. Opportunities for Austrian banks and investors in GIFT City and cooperation in India’s digital public infrastructure, including UPI, were also discussed.

In the space sector, both sides agreed to jointly organise a bilateral space industry seminar in Vienna in the autumn of this year, building on India’s Space Policy 2023 and Austria’s technological strengths.

The two sides also agreed to resume negotiations for a new Air Services Agreement to enhance aviation connectivity and collaboration in R&D and production.

Science, technology and food safety collaboration

The leaders emphasised high-technology cooperation as central to the partnership, including in quantum technology, semiconductors, AI, cybersecurity, lasers and wastewater treatment. They highlighted the role of the Austrian Institute of Technology in joint research, particularly in railway sensing technologies and electric mobility.

An MoU was signed between India’s FSSAI and Austria’s AGES to strengthen cooperation in food safety standards, scientific exchange and regulatory best practices.

Education, skills, mobility and cultural ties

The two leaders welcomed growing academic exchanges and Austria’s ‘Focus India’ initiative by leading technical universities, including the launch of a dedicated portal to facilitate Indian students’ admission to Austrian engineering programmes under ‘TU Austria’.

A Joint Letter of Intent on dual vocational training and recognition of vocational qualifications was signed, and a structured bilateral Dialogue on Education Cooperation will be launched.

They also welcomed the operationalisation of the Working Holiday Programme and reviewed progress under the Comprehensive Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement signed in 2023. Austria’s plan to create a pre-check register for Indian skilled workers to match Austrian shortage occupations was noted.

Cultural exchanges, interest in yoga and ayurveda in Austria, and the signing of an Agreement on Audiovisual Co-Production to promote joint filmmaking were also highlighted.

India-EU and multilateral cooperation

Both leaders welcomed the conclusion of the India-EU FTA negotiations and the adoption of a new Joint India-EU Comprehensive Strategic Agenda. They reiterated support for the India-EU Trade and Technology Council and the India-EU Security and Defence Partnership.

They also endorsed exploratory talks on India’s possible association with the EU’s Horizon Europe research framework.

At the multilateral level, the leaders reiterated their commitment to UN reforms, a rules-based Indo-Pacific, peace in Ukraine through diplomacy, and stability in West Asia including maritime security.

Commitment to regular high-level engagement

Concluding the visit, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive trajectory of bilateral ties and agreed to maintain regular high-level exchanges and institutional dialogue mechanisms to further deepen the Enhanced India-Austria Partnership.