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What is the story about?
Austria
could help in development work in the Himalayas, with technology-related discussions, including on tunnelling and ropeways and also, green economies likely. Of course, India and Austria are likely to discuss the international situation when the Chancellor, Christian Stocker, is here very soon. Austria is a neutral country, one of the few in Europe, along with Switzerland, that is not part of NATO, the US- headed military alliance.
But this country of 10 million people is part of the European Union and expectedly, goes with EU decisions. The world currently has two wars in progress— Ukraine and Russia have been fighting for over four years and while there is a fragile cease-fire in place after 40 days of fighting, Iran could strike the USA and Israel and vice-versa at any time. The wars have hurt the world’s crude oil supplies, and while Austria imports oil from Saudi Arabia, it has got a lot from Kazakhstan and even Guyana. This is the first visit by an Austrian chancellor to India in 40 years and when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vienna last year, he too was the first Indian head of government there in four decades. Austrian technology may be helpful in tunnelling in the Himalayas, the Austrians have been tunnelling in the Alps for decades. Their ropeway systems could be important for connectivity in the Himalayan regions. Austria has skills when it comes to the green economy and waste management and these can be of help. Austria wants more Indian tourists and even Bollywood’s presence and a human mobility agreement is also in place since 2023. Bilateral trade is only $3.5 billion and that could rise after the visit.
