Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been awarded the prestigious ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III’, marking a historic moment as it signifies the first time an Indian Prime Minister has set foot in Cyprus. The award, presented during an official ceremony at the Presidential Palace in Nicosia, is the highest civilian honour given by the Cypriot government.
The honour was conferred by Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides, who acknowledged Modi’s pivotal role in strengthening the relationship between India and Cyprus. Modi expressed his gratitude on the social media platform X, stating, “Humbled to receive the ‘Grand Cross of the Order of Makarios III’ of Cyprus. I dedicate it to the friendship between our nations.”
Upon his arrival, Prime Minister Modi received a ceremonial welcome from President Christodoulides. His warm reception continued at Larnaca International Airport, where he was greeted enthusiastically by members of the Indian diaspora in Limassol, showcasing the strong bilateral people-to-people connections that exist.
During his visit, the two leaders engaged in discussions aimed at bolstering cooperation in key sectors including trade, energy, innovation, and technology. They introduced their respective delegations and shared insights on potential avenues for collaboration. Additionally, PM Modi and President Christodoulides met with leading CEOs from both nations to foster commercial partnerships. Modi shared on X, “Boosting business linkages! President Nikos Christodoulides and I interacted with leading CEOs to add vigour to commercial linkages between India and Cyprus… I also talked about India’s reform trajectory in the last decade.”
The Cyprus Presidency emphasized the historical significance of this visit, referring to it as the beginning of a “new era of strategic partnership” between the two countries. This sentiment was echoed by Modi, who highlighted Cyprus as a close friend and strategic partner for India in the Mediterranean and European Union region. He characterized the visit as an important step toward deepening their historical ties and expanding cooperation across various sectors, including trade, security, and technology.
PM Modi’s trip to Cyprus is just the first leg of a broader three-nation tour, which will also see him travel to Canada and Croatia, aiming to strengthen India’s ties on multiple fronts globally.
