Ambassador Róbert Maxián explores how green energy, the EU FTA, and industrial investments are transforming Slovakia-India ties for a strategic futureThank you so much, Ambassador Maxián, for speaking to us. How have things grown and expanded over the last 30 years between the two countries?Ambassador Maxián: Thank you very much for having me. This year, we have been celebrating 33 years of Indo-Slovak diplomatic relations. But as you mentioned very correctly, we have to go beyond these 33 years because actually the history of the Indo-Slovak relations started in 1918, once the new Czechoslovakia had been created.India’s first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, met in Bratislava with the Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Clementis. The cooperation was very intensive, especially in engineering, machinery, building steel plants and power plants. There have been many brands, which might indicate they are from Czech, like Bohemia, Sigma, Tatra, but they naturally have a footprint of Slovakia also, because many of those companies or subsidiaries were actually located in Slovakia. We have around 30 years of cooperation with India. I am very proud of that.The special impetus and boost to our relations had been given by an official visit of President Draupadi Murmu last year. This year, President of the Slovak Republic, Mr. Peter Pellegrini visited India, and he had very extensive discussions with Prime Minister Modi and President Draupadi Murmu.ET SpotlightWith the EU-India trade deal negotiations currently underway, how do you see this opening up new opportunities for Slovakia?Ambassador Maxián: The EU deal is a mother of deals. I would say that it is a strategic deal. The question is what we are gaining out of that? First, Slovakia is the largest personal automobile producer in the world, per capita. We produce 1.2 million cars per year. We are in five major production units. And one of the largest commodities among Slovak exports to the Indian market are the luxury passenger cars.We supply roughly $100 million in cars, and we are buying from India $150 million in components for those cars. I think this is a win-win situation for both countries. We hope that FTA might be operational by the end of the year, if not early next year, 2027.Last year, when the Foreign Minister from Slovakia visited India, what new opportunities opened up between the two countries?Ambassador Maxián: Three to four years back, we submitted an ambitious proposal to my headquarters and we suggested that we would use the momentum of the presence of my Foreign Affairs Minister at the Raisina Dialogue along with a segment of enterprises. So, we should bring the companies to India. This model has been very successful.This year the plant for ethanol has been commissioned in Uttar Pradesh and already is running and has successful contracts and first deliveries. It is a plant based on the waste of rice and corn also, but as of now we will be looking for other locations in other states, perhaps Madhya Pradesh. We are building up the plant in Odisha, which is a Rs. 2,600 crore investment and this is a joint venture between Slovak company Tatra Vagonka Poprad and Indian company Jupiter Wagons. We would like to be an active part of your Viksit Bharat process 2047.ET SpotlightRegarding the opportunity for professionals to work across borders between India and the EU. How do you see this opening up?Ambassador Maxián: Well, in January this year, during the visit of the high delegation from the EU, there were three major agreements announced. This is useful also for Slovakia. There is also the legal gateway office in Delhi which has been established giving practical advice to Indian travellers as well as European companies and organisations seeking Indian talent. It is a very practical solution which is useful for Slovakia.As of now, the Indian workforce in Slovakia is the second largest workforce. We are employing 9,000 Indian workers in our industry. The FTA will have an impact on the flow of the workforce from India to Slovakia. As of now, 100,000 workers are required in Slovakia.ET SpotlightI must also mention your interest in Bollywood. You speak Hindi very well. How did you learn it?Ambassador Maxián: My Hindi is not good but thank you for your compliment. Thanks to my study at the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in 1991 I have picked up some basic Hindi language. It’s my privilege to speak at least a little bit of Hindi. This brings me closer to Indian people, opening the door for communication with them. I first came to India in 1991 and the number one Bollywood blockbuster at that time was Saajan starring Madhuri Dixit, Salman Khan, and Sanjay Dutt.