PM Modi Congratulates Janez Janša, Reaffirms Commitment to Strengthening India–Slovenia Ties

New Delhi, May 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday congratulated Janez Janša on his election as the Prime Minister of Slovenia and expressed India’s readiness to work closely with his government to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries.

In a message posted on social media platform X, PM Modi extended his greetings and emphasised the importance of deepening cooperation for mutual growth and shared prosperity.

“Heartiest congratulations to Mr. Janez Janša on his election as the Prime Minister of Slovenia. I look forward to working closely with him to further strengthen our bilateral ties for the shared prosperity and mutual benefit of our people,” PM Modi wrote.

Janša’s election was confirmed on May 22 when Slovenia’s National Assembly approved his appointment through a secret ballot. He secured 51 votes in the 90-member parliament, according to Balkan Insight. Despite his party, the Slovenian Democratic Party (SDS), narrowly missing an outright victory in the March elections, Janša is set to serve his fourth term as Prime Minister.

His return to office marks a significant political development in Slovenia, as he remains one of the country’s most experienced political leaders, having previously held the position on three separate occasions.

India and Slovenia have in recent years worked to expand their engagement across multiple sectors, including trade, tourism, technology and investment. Diplomatic interactions between the two countries have steadily increased, reflecting a shared interest in strengthening economic and strategic cooperation.

In November last year, officials from both sides held discussions aimed at boosting bilateral cooperation. According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Secretary (West) Sibi George met a Slovenian delegation led by Peter Japelj, Director General for Economic, Cultural and Scientific Diplomacy in Slovenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The meeting focused on enhancing collaboration in what both sides refer to as the “three Ts” — Trade, Technology and Tourism. Officials explored new opportunities to deepen engagement in these key areas, while also reviewing ongoing initiatives.

Further strengthening the institutional framework of the partnership, India and Slovenia held the 10th session of the India–Slovenia Joint Committee on Trade and Economic Cooperation (JCTEC) in New Delhi in November. During the meeting, both countries expressed optimism about the early conclusion of a balanced and mutually beneficial India–European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the discussions included a comprehensive review of global and domestic economic conditions as well as an assessment of bilateral trade and investment ties. Officials also examined sectoral cooperation in areas such as agriculture, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, healthcare, transport, energy, tourism, MSMEs, and traditional systems of medicine including Ayurveda.

The Ministry noted that bilateral trade between India and Slovenia has shown steady growth over the past several years, highlighting the increasing depth and resilience of the economic partnership. Both sides agreed on the importance of maintaining this positive momentum through sustained engagement and policy coordination.

PM Modi’s message of congratulations to Janez Janša is seen as a continuation of India’s broader diplomatic approach of strengthening ties with European nations through economic cooperation, innovation partnerships and people-to-people exchanges.

With Janša returning as Prime Minister, both countries are expected to build further on existing agreements and explore new areas of collaboration in trade, technology, and sustainable development, reinforcing a relationship that has steadily grown stronger in recent years.