Recently, The Prime Minister of India visited Vienna, Austria.

Significance of the PM Visit to Austria

• Narendra Modi’s visit to Vienna is the first by an Indian Prime Minister since 1983, when Indira Gandhi traveled to Austria.
• This visit highlights Austria’s non-NATO status amidst tensions with Russia and Western allies.

• Messages Conveyed

• • During his visit, Modi emphasized India’s concern over civilian casualties in conflicts, including recent events in Ukraine.
  • He reiterated that war cannot solve problems and underscored the need for peace talks.

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Key outcomes of visit

• Strengthening Bilateral Relations: The bilateral relation between Austria and India was established in 1949.infrastructure, renewable energy, e-commerce, fintech, enterprise tech
  • Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Austria and his discussion with Karl Nehammer  on various matters such as war and its consequences strengthened the bond between two countries again. 
• Economic and Technological Collaboration:  The discussion emphasised on “future-oriented bilateral sustainable economic and technology partnership” between India and Austria. 
  • It could open new doors for advancement of technology in both the countries.  
• Stance on Russia-Ukraine war:  Two two countries have maintained a balanced position on the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • Austria and India both support EU sanctions against Russia. At the same time, continue to engage in commercial ties with Russia, including gas imports. 

Austria’s Neutrality and Historical Background

• During World War II, Vienna was under Nazi occupation. 
• It was later divided into four sectors by the US, UK, France, and Soviet Union.
• The Allies occupied Austria for a decade after the war ended. 
• About Austria 
  • Austria is strategically located between Western Europe and the Eastern bloc.
  • Vienna is the capital of Austria. 
  • It gained independence in 1955 through the Austrian State Treaty.
    • The treaty, ratified by four occupying powers, mandated Austria’s neutrality, akin to Switzerland’s stance.
      • The country’s constitution prohibits joining military alliances or hosting foreign military bases.

India’s Role in Austria’s Independence

• Austrian Appeal for Sovereignty: In 1952-53, Austria sought Jawaharlal Nehru’s assistance to achieve independence from Allied occupation.
• Support at the UN: India was one of the few nations supporting Austria’s plea at the UN in 1952, advocating an end to Allied occupation and restoration of sovereignty.
• Nehru’s Diplomatic Influence: Nehru’s respected stature among Western nations and the Soviets made him a pivotal figure in Austria’s negotiations for independence.
• Mediation Role: Nehru played a crucial role as a diplomatic mediator during Austria’s treaty discussions, introducing a new dynamic to the negotiations.
• Historic Visit: In June 1955, shortly after Austria gained independence, Nehru made the first state visit to Austria by a foreign leader.

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India-Austria Relations: Historical Highlights

• Longstanding ties: India and Austria established diplomatic relations in 1949, and this year marks the 75th anniversary.
• High-level visits: Regular visits by heads of state and government officials from both countries have helped strengthen bilateral relations. 
  • For example, President K.R. Narayanan visited Austria in 1999, and Austrian President Heinz Fischer reciprocated in 2005.

• India’s Cultural  Relation with Austria:

  • Indo – austrian culture dates back to the 16th century when Balthasar Springer travelled from Tyro to India in 1505 with the third Portuguese fleet.
  • Indology in Austria: This tradition started between 1825-1920. 
    • It is a period known for its distinguished philologists and archaeologists.
    • Vienna was established as a centre for indology
      • The Chair for Indology became an independent Department with new premises after 1955. 
        • Today, it is known as the Institute for South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Vienna.
  • Sanskrit teaching: In 1845, Sanskrit teaching started at at Vienna University 
  • Cultural Performances: Indian artists and Austrian artists have performed in each other’s countries .
    • For example: Recent, Indian artists are 
      • Kuchipudi dancers “ Raja and Radha Reddy”, 
      • Martial arts performers – Monish Nayak Kathak Dance Group, Pt. Bholanath Mishra Indian vocal music, Rajasthani folk dance group

• India’s Relation with Austria in Space Sector  

  • Austria’s first two satellites were launched by India’s PSLV-C20 from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
    • TUGSAT-1/BRITE
    • UniBRITE
  • The two satellites were developed in collaboration with 
    • The Institute ofCommunication Networks and Satellite Communications (IKS) at the Technical University of Graz (TUG)
    •  Institute for Astronomy of the University of Vienna
    • The Space Flight Lab (SFL) at the University of Toronto Institute Of Aerospace Studies
    • (UTIAS).

• Austria-India Association

  • This association was founded by  Prof. Arnold Keyserling
    • It was the first registered Austria – India Association 
      • Objective: It aimed to popularise Indian dance and music in Austria. 
    • Notable Performances: Ravi Shankar, Ali Akbar Khan, and Bismillah Khan 
  • Current Activities
    • It organises lectures and exhibitions on Indian folk art and paintings.
    • Hosts Odissi and Bharatanatyam dance workshops and film festivals in Austria. 

Significance of Austria for India’s Economy

• Strong potential for economic partnership: Indian Prime Minister Modi and Austrian Chancellor Nehammer discussed a “future-oriented bilateral sustainable economic and technology partnership.” 
  • This suggests that Austria sees India as a valuable partner for collaboration in various sectors like infrastructure, renewable energy, e-commerce, and fintech.
• Opportunities for Indian businesses: A potential economic partnership with Austria could open doors for Indian businesses in areas like e-commerce, fintech, and enterprise technology. 
  • These are growing sectors in India, and Austria’s expertise could be valuable for Indian companies looking to expand or improve their offerings.

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