Madrid — India’s Ambassador to Spain and Andorra, Jayant N. Khobragade, highlighted the steady expansion of ties between the two countries while attending his exhibition “Journey with the Divine Flow.” He described the relationship as similar to visiting friends: regular exchanges and reciprocal visits help keep the bond alive.
Khobragade stressed the role of high-level engagement in deepening relations, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Spain in 2017 as a key milestone. He said such leadership visits reinforce political trust and open the way for broader cooperation.
On economic ties, the ambassador noted growing trade and investment: bilateral trade has reached nearly USD 10 billion, with Indian exports to Spain around USD 7 billion and imports near USD 3 billion. This economic partnership is a major pillar of the relationship.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Spain, established in 1956. The anniversary is being celebrated as the India-Spain Year of Culture, Tourism and Artificial Intelligence, with events and exchanges planned to deepen people-to-people and technological links.
Discussing his exhibition, Khobragade explained the title reflected his belief that beauty contains an element of divinity. Curators organized the show around three themes: Nature, Music and Dance, and Civilizational Connect.
The Ministry of External Affairs notes sustained cordial relations, frequent high-level interactions — including meetings between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares — and continued contact on G20 sidelines and through phone calls. Spain is reported as India’s sixth-largest trading partner in Europe, with bilateral trade at about USD 9.9 billion in 2023, and as the 16th largest investor in India.
India’s exports to Spain include mineral fuels, chemicals, textiles and machinery; imports from Spain include mechanical appliances, chemicals and plastics. (Sourced from a syndicated feed.)
