New Delhi | RBN News
President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Tuesday on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit. The meeting focused on strengthening bilateral engagement across strategic and economic sectors.
According to an official release issued by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), both leaders reviewed the current state of India–Serbia relations and explored avenues to deepen cooperation in defence, manufacturing, digital public infrastructure (DPI), fertilisers, and infrastructure development.
Focus on Strategic and Industrial Cooperation
During the discussions, defence collaboration emerged as one of the key themes. While no specific agreements were announced, both sides examined opportunities to enhance institutional and industry-level partnerships in the sector.
Manufacturing cooperation was also addressed, with emphasis on expanding industrial linkages and promoting investment flows. Serbia has been positioning itself as a manufacturing hub in Southeast Europe, while India continues to strengthen its domestic production ecosystem under various industrial initiatives.
Infrastructure development and fertiliser cooperation were discussed in the context of supply chain resilience and long-term economic engagement. Officials indicated that these sectors offer scope for practical collaboration and joint ventures.
Digital Public Infrastructure and Technology
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) formed an important component of the dialogue. India’s experience in developing scalable digital platforms for identity, payments, and service delivery has attracted international interest. Discussions explored how technological cooperation, including digital frameworks, could contribute to institutional capacity building and economic modernization.
The meeting took place alongside the India AI Impact Summit, where artificial intelligence and emerging technologies are central themes. Although AI-specific agreements were not detailed in the official statement, the broader context of digital collaboration was noted.
Statements by the Prime Minister
In separate posts on social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi described the interaction as constructive. He stated that both sides discussed ways to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors and emphasized the longstanding nature of India–Serbia ties.
The Prime Minister also expressed confidence that bilateral relations would continue to gain momentum in the coming years.
The message was shared in both English and Serbian, reflecting diplomatic outreach and mutual engagement.
Background of India–Serbia Relations
India and Serbia maintain historically cordial relations, with engagement spanning political dialogue, economic cooperation, and multilateral coordination. Diplomatic ties date back several decades, and both countries have supported each other in international forums on various occasions.
Economic exchanges between the two countries have remained modest but steady, with scope identified in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, information technology, agriculture inputs, and infrastructure services.
Recent years have seen renewed emphasis on diversifying bilateral engagement, particularly in technology-driven sectors and industrial partnerships.
No Formal Agreements Announced
No memorandums of understanding or joint declarations were signed during the meeting. Officials described the discussions as forward-looking, aimed at identifying new areas for practical collaboration.
Follow-up engagements at ministerial and technical levels are expected to further examine the proposals discussed during the talks.
What Happens Next
Officials indicated that sector-specific consultations may be undertaken to operationalize cooperation in defence, manufacturing, DPI, fertilisers, and infrastructure. Industry participation and policy-level coordination are likely to be key components of future engagement.
The meeting on the sidelines of the India AI Impact Summit reflects continued diplomatic outreach by both countries as they seek to broaden the scope of their bilateral partnership.
Further developments are expected as discussions progress through established diplomatic channels.
