On January 6, 2023, in Ljubljana, the 9th India-Slovenia Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) were held. Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West) of the Ministry of External Affairs, led the Indian delegation, and Mr. Samuel Bogar, State Secretary for Political and Multilateral Affairs at the Slovenian Foreign Affairs Ministry, presided over the delegation from Slovenia. In July 2010, the final FOC took place in a physical setting.
In 2022, India and Slovenia commemorated 30 years of diplomatic ties. Regular political and official exchanges between the two nations indicate that they have a close bilateral relationship. Pre-Covid levels for trade and economic activity between Slovenia and India are quickly returning.
Despite the limitations imposed by the Covid pandemic, the FOC gave people a chance to assess how the bilateral ties had improved over the previous year. In important fields like agriculture, health, S&T, defense, space, migration and mobility, climate innovation, and renewable energy, both sides talked about the future.
In addition, India and Slovenia discussed a variety of regional and international issues of shared interest, such as Afghanistan, Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific, European Union, UN, climate change, and India’s G20 presidency and the Millet 2023 International Year. The resumption of FTA negotiations and India and EU’s Connectivity partnership were cited as major factors advancing bilateral and intra-EU economic ties.
Secretary (West) spoke with H. E. Mr. Predrag Bakovi, head of the foreign affairs committee in the parliament, and Ms. Suzana Lep Simenko, leader of Slovenia’s Friendship Group of Parliamentarians on India, during the visit. Additionally, he got to know other Friendship Group members, members of the Indian Community, and notable Slovenian community figures in the fields of culture and education. He also held a business meeting with Slovenia’s business community on January 5, 2023. The upcoming FOC in India in 2024 was something the two sides eagerly anticipated.
