Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Poland last month to raise Polish-Indian relations to the level of a Strategic Partnership was the first from an Indian PM in 45 years. Bridge India followed this visit with its own high-level delegation as a Partner to the 33rd annual Economic Forum in Karpacz, one of the largest and most significant economic and political events in Central and Eastern Europe.
Economic Forum in Karpacz attracts 6,000 guests
Poland and India presented a five-year “Action Plan” (2024-2028) for the Polish-Indian Strategic Partnership, which identified a number of areas of cooperation, including defence, trade, agriculture, energy, green technologies, infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and mining.
Many of these topics were discussed during participation of the Bridge India and wider Indian presence at the Forum.
The event hosted over 6,000 guests from Poland and around the world. For over three decades, the Economic Forum has been a pivotal event this part of Europe. It attracts presidents, government leaders, ministers, politicians, local officials, corporate executives, cultural figures, renowned scientists, influential journalists, and NGO representatives. For three days, Karpacz becomes a central hub for discussing the critical challenges shaping the present and future of Central and Eastern Europe.
India was represented across several panel sessions, reflecting growing interest in economic ties
Bridge India’s founder Pratik Dattani took part in session New divisions, new connections. Chances and risks of global derisking, focused on how Europe can derisk from economic dependence on China, alongside Krzysztof Zalewski (President of the Management Board, Institute of Asian and Global Studies), Łukasz Fyderek (Director of the Institute of the Middle and Far East, Jagiellonian University), Kozo Saiki (General Director of the Brussels Office, Japan Machinery Center for Trade and Investment) and Filip Šebok (Head of the Prague office, Central European Institute of Asian Studies).
The session Asian Century: What Does the Rise of Asia Mean for Europe? focused on opportunities for Europe across Asia, featuring Dr Varun Suthra (International Relations Director at KIIT University), Taha Coburn-Kutay (President, UK Asian Business Council); Marcin Jacoby (Dean, Social and Human Sciences Department at SWPS University), Patrick Mendis (Rajawali Senior Fellow, Harvard University), Philip Merrell (Director for Serbia and Western Balkans, Aretera Public Affairs), Wang Liwei (Editor, Caixin Media) and and Zalewski.
Thereafter, Bridge India’s dedicated session on The fastest growing major economy in the world – Taking Advantage of the India opportunity saw participation from Myles Stacey OBE (Former Special Advisor to Prime Ministers Sunak and Johnson), Dr Ramanand Nand (Director, Centre of Policy Research and Governance), Andrew Grocock (Director, Together UK Foundation), Eliza Przezdziecka (Director, Institute of International Economics, Warsaw School of Economics) and Dattani.
The visit is the third time Bridge India has partnered with the Economic Forum in Karpacz to bring a delegation and curate panel discussions.
If you’d like to take part in the delegation for 2025, please get in touch.