Poland in India

After relations weakened in the 1990s due to transformational changes in Poland and economic reforms in India, regular contacts are maintained, including at the highest level. The most important visits in recent years include the official visits to Poland of the President of India Pratibha Patil (2009) and the Vice President of India M.H. Ansari (2017) and the Minister of Foreign Affairs S. Jaishankar in 2019. In 2010, Prime Minister Donald Tusk paid a state visit to India, while in 2022 Minister of Foreign Affairs Zbigniew Rau visited India.

In 2024, on the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Poland. It was the first official visit of the Prime Minister of India to Poland in 45 years.

During the visit, bilateral relations were raised to the level of strategic partnership, and an Action Plan for 2024-2028 was adopted, defining the most important directions of development of bilateral relations.

Poland's trade with India (EUR million):

*Data based on GUS preliminary data for January-October 2024.

According to GUS data, the value of trade in January-October 2024 was EUR 4284 million. The value of Polish exports amounted to EUR 954 million in the first nine months, and imports amounted to EUR 3330 million in the first ten months. The main branches of Polish exports in 2024 were machinery and mechanical equipment (€424 million, mainly turbojet engines); mineral products (€323 million, mainly coke and semi-coke); base metals (€265 million, mainly cast iron and steel waste and scrap); electrical equipment (€162 million, mainly parts for telecommunications equipment and diagnostic apparatus); optical instruments and apparatus (€65 million), rubber and rubber articles (€47 million, mainly synthetic rubber). Imports were electronic equipment (mainly smartphones); machinery and mechanical equipment; base metals (mainly cast iron, steel, aluminum); textile and footwear materials and articles; chemical industry products (mainly pharmaceuticals).

India is the second largest target market in Asia for investment from Poland. The largest Polish investors in India include companies in the packaging manufacturing industry (CanPack), hygiene and sanitary products (TZMO), components for the automotive and railroad industries (Maflow, MB Pneumatyka, Elimen, Polmor), companies developing IT/ICT services (Billennium, Transition Technologies), companies in the cosmetics, furniture and mining sectors.

Indian investments in Poland are valued by the National Bank of Poland at more than PLN 1.8 billion. Some of the largest Indian investors and employers in Poland include Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Uflex, Essel Propack, HCL Technologies, Wipro, Berger Paints, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, and Rishab Instruments (Lumel).

Poland and India cooperate in the field of culture on the basis of an Agreement between the Government of the Republic of Poland and the Government of the Republic of India on Cooperation in the Fields of Culture, Education and Higher Education. Embassy of the Republic of Poland in New Delhi supports cooperation in the field of culture by organizing events, study visits and supporting Polish-Indian projects.

Cultural exchange between Poland and India dates back to the 19th century, when a Chair of Sanskrit was established at the Jagiellonian University in Kraków. Since then, the Polish school of Indology has produced many internationally respected experts and scholars of the Indian subcontinent.

The legacy of Polish culture is also present in India. During World War II, renowned Polish artist Stefan Norblin found refuge in India, where he was invited by the Maharaja of Jodhpur to decorate the interiors of the Umaid Bhawan Palace. His works, blending Polish artistic traditions with themes from Indian mythology, represent a unique example of intercultural exchange and artistic collaboration.

Poland and India are also bound by strong ties in the realm of humanitarian values and human solidarity. Between 1942 and 1946, the Maharaja of Nawanagar, Jam Saheb Digvijay Sinhji, offered shelter to around 1,000 orphaned Polish children evacuated from the USSR along with General Anders’ army, providing them with accommodation, education, and the opportunity to preserve their Polish identity. For this gesture, he was awarded the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland.

Other refugee camps were also established in India, the largest being in Valivade (Kolhapur), became home to approximately 5,000 Polish women and children.

Polish Institute New Delhi