New Delhi: Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk is set to visit India from 21 to 23 October with a delegation representing nearly a hundred companies, as Warsaw seeks to deepen economic and strategic ties with New Delhi.
The visit will be the first by a Polish prime minister to India since 2010. It follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Poland two years ago, the first official visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 45 years, and is aimed at giving fresh impetus to bilateral cooperation. During Modi’s visit, bilateral relations were elevated to the level of a strategic partnership, and the Action Plan for 2024–2028 was adopted, outlining key priorities for strengthening cooperation.
Earlier this year, Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Radosław Sikorski visited India, marking the first high-level visit between the two countries since their relations were upgraded to a strategic partnership.
Defence cooperation is expected to feature prominently in the discussions during Tusk’s visit, alongside space technology, artificial intelligence, mining, green energy and food processing. A meeting of the Joint Working Group on Defence is also likely to take place. The two sides are also expected to discuss global security concerns, including the war in Ukraine and the conflict in West Asia.
The Polish prime minister is scheduled to arrive Wednesday evening. Thursday’s programme will include bilateral talks with PM Modi, followed by a business forum aimed at identifying opportunities for investment and trade. Tusk will then travel to Bengaluru to meet the state’s governor and chief minister and attend a second business forum focused on high-technology industries.
Economic cooperation will be another central focus of the visit. Bilateral trade currently stands at about $6 billion. Warsaw hopes to increase it to $10 billion and eventually achieve double-digit growth.
India is the second-largest destination in Asia for Polish investment. Major Polish investors operating in India include CanPack, which manufactures packaging; TZMO, which specialises in hygiene and sanitary products; and Maflow, MB Pneumatyka, Elimen and Polmor, which operate in the automotive and railway components sectors. Billennium and Transition Technologies are active in IT and ICT services.
Indian investment in Poland is valued at more than PLN 1.8 billion, according to the National Bank of Poland. Major Indian investors and employers in the country include Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Uflex, Essel Propack, HCL Technologies, Wipro, Berger Paints, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Rishab Instruments (Lumel). These investments reflect growing business ties between the two countries and the importance of bilateral economic cooperation.
A proposed free trade agreement between India and the European Union could open new opportunities for Polish exporters, particularly in machinery, industrial components and advanced technology. Poland also hopes to expand exports of apples, processed foods and pet food. Negotiations on the India- EU Free Trade Agreement (India-EU FTA) concluded on 27 January, 2026, and the agreement is scheduled to be officially signed on 16 December, 2026.
Dairy and poultry, however, remain outside the agreement’s current provisions, limiting market access for some of Poland’s major agricultural industries. Space cooperation is also expected to gain momentum following the participation of Indian and Polish astronauts in the Axiom 4 mission. The two governments are exploring closer links between their space institutions, while mining technology and battery recycling could offer further opportunities for industrial partnerships.
Other areas under discussion include green hydrogen, green ammonia and the recovery of valuable materials from used electric-vehicle batteries. Poland is also interested in working with India on semiconductor-related mining and advanced industrial technologies.
Beyond bilateral relations, the leaders are expected to discuss counterterrorism, international security, education, science and cultural exchanges. Poland is also considering joining initiatives launched by India, although no specific agreements have yet been confirmed so far.
(Edited by Prakhar Agrawal)
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