Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was on his way to a summit of the G7 group of nations in Canada, and Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides were scheduled to address business leaders on Sunday and hold formal talks with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides on Monday, focusing on Cyprus’ potential role as a gateway for the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC) — a strategic trade link connecting India to Europe through the Middle East.
The talks come on the second day of Modi’s visit to Cyprus, which is part of a broader diplomatic push to enhance India’s engagement with European nations. The corridor is widely viewed as India’s counterweight to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), with ambitions to deepen commercial integration via multimodal transport, including rail and sea, according to dw.com
Modi’s high-profile visit is being closely watched in India, where analysts interpret it as a diplomatic signal to Turkey, a close ally of Pakistan and rival to Cyprus. Turkey has vocally supported Pakistan during recent India-Pakistan tensions, further straining Ankara-New Delhi ties.
President Christodoulides emphasized Cyprus’ strategic importance during remarks Sunday, saying, “One of the objectives of our discussions is the connection of India with Europe through the region of the wider Middle East, and its entry into Europe through the Republic of Cyprus.”
Modi’s itinerary on Sunday included a diaspora event with the Indian community in Cyprus; an informal meeting with the Cypriot president and a business roundtable, aimed at enhancing bilateral economic ties.
Indian media reported that an MoU between the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and Eurobank of Cyprus is being facilitated to introduce UPI services for cross-border digital transactions, marking a major step in fintech collaboration.
Modi’s Cyprus visit is part of a wider European tour. He will head to Canada for the G7 summit and conclude the trip with a stop in Croatia, further expanding India’s strategic footprint across the European continent.
