Poland and India have the skills to work together in the most advanced areas of the modern economy, Prime Minister Donald Tusk said at the Polish-Indian Business Forum in New Delhi. He added that he wants Poland to be a gateway to Europe for Indian companies, and India a gateway to Asia for Polish companies.
The Polish-Indian Business Forum is taking place Thursday in New Delhi. Finance Minister Andrzej Domański and representatives of nearly 100 Polish companies are accompanying the prime minister on his visit to India. According to Tusk, it is the largest visit of its kind in the history of relations between the two countries.
Opening the forum, Tusk stressed that Poland and India share an experience of development and “a conviction that entrepreneurship, knowledge and new technologies change the face of society.” He noted that both countries have undergone major changes since his previous visit to India in 2010. India has become one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, and Poland one of the largest and fastest-growing economies in the EU.
The prime minister pointed out that, because of the war in Ukraine and fragile supply chains for energy, raw materials and technology, Poland must build resilient and diversified relationships with many countries. He said that in this context India is especially important to Poland.
“We want Poland to be the gateway to Europe for companies from India, and India the gateway to Asia for companies from Poland,” the prime minister said.
He said Poland offers developed industry, skilled specialists and access to the European single market. As an advantage for India, he named Poland’s location at the center of Europe’s transport routes and its extensive logistics infrastructure. India, he said, brings “large scale, dynamism, talent and great manufacturing potential.” He added that a trade agreement between India and the European Union, which is still being put into effect, will open up new opportunities.
The prime minister said the two countries can cooperate in defense, the development of dual-use technologies, mining, energy, agriculture, and the food and pharmaceutical industries. He noted that there is also potential for cooperation in artificial intelligence, digitalization and the space sector. He said the delegation will discuss the space industry and information technology on Friday in Bengaluru.
Tusk stressed that Polish companies are interested in establishing cooperation with partners from India. He called for developing contacts among Polish and Indian universities, researchers, start-ups and young professionals from both countries.
The prime minister presented forum participants with three messages. First, he urged them not to stop at exchanging business cards and declarations, but to look for projects that will lead to lasting investments, joint production, contracts and new technologies. Second, he called on them not to be afraid of ambitious goals.
“Poland and India have the necessary skills to work together in the most advanced areas of the modern economy,” he said. He named dual-use manufacturing, artificial intelligence and the space industry.
Third, the prime minister urged participants to turn these opportunities into concrete results. He declared that the Polish government is ready to support this process, and he expressed hope that business organizations on both sides will help in forming partnerships and carrying out specific projects.
During a later panel discussion, Minister Domański said that what matters to Polish companies is not so much exporting to India as “being” there and building a long-term partnership.
He said the free trade agreement with India now being prepared will be a “milestone” in Polish-Indian relations. He also expressed hope that it will be implemented in the first half of 2027.
According to the finance minister, Poland could set itself a more ambitious goal than the doubling of trade with India by 2030 that the prime minister announced. “Frankly, after several meetings I had today, I think we can dare to do more. The $6 billion we have now is well below our potential,” he said.
Talks in New Delhi are focused on, among other things, dual-use technologies and the defense industry, the agri-food sector and agricultural technologies, pharmaceuticals and medicine, industrial technologies, and mining and raw materials. The space sector is also expected to be an important area of cooperation. The forum is expected to include the signing of agreements and memorandums of cooperation.
On Friday, the Polish delegation will travel to Bengaluru, India’s main technology hub, where a second business forum will be held. Tusk will take part in a seminar on the ICT and aerospace sectors there and will meet with authorities of the state of Karnataka.
The government wants to at least double trade with India by 2030 and make it more balanced. In 2025, trade between the two countries totaled €5.681 billion, with Polish exports to India reaching €1.366 billion and imports from India €4.315 billion.
From New Delhi, Filip Romik (PAP)
