India-Croatia Ties Deepen with Centuries-Old Roots and Diaspora

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Historic cultural bonds, growing economic linkages, and vibrant people-to-people exchanges mark evolving bilateral relationship

By TRH News Desk

NEW DELHI, June 18, 2025 — Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Zagreb on Wednesday in a first ever visit by an Indian PM. Andrej Plenković, Prime Minister of Croatia, received Modi at the airport, with Croats giving a traditional welcome.

India and Croatia are witnessing a dynamic transformation in their bilateral ties, rooted in shared history, cultural affinity, and expanding strategic and economic cooperation. From ship purchases during the Yugoslav era to rising migration and cultural engagement in recent years, the two nations continue to build on a foundation laid decades ago.

Historical and Cultural Connect

During the era of the former Yugoslavia, Croatia played a central role in India-Yugoslavia ties, accounting for more than two-thirds of trade between the two nations. India’s significant purchase of Croatian-built ships in the 1970s and 1980s marked a high point in bilateral commerce. Marshal Josip Broz Tito, a Croat and a towering figure in Yugoslav history, shared close ties with Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru — both being key architects of the Non-Aligned Movement.

Centuries-old civilizational links further enrich the relationship. “Croatian missionaries were among the earliest visitors to India, and historical evidence links the Adriatic trading hub of Dubrovnik to Goa. One enduring cultural legacy is the Church of São Braz in Goa, believed to have been built by Croatians around 1563,” said a note by the Ministry of External Affairs on Croatia.

Ivan Filip Vezdin, a Croatian scholar, was the first European to publish a Sanskrit grammar in 1790. A commemorative plaque was unveiled in his honour in Trivandrum in 1999, celebrating this rare Indo-Croatian intellectual bridge.

Academic and Cultural Engagement

Modern-day cultural exchanges remain vibrant. The Department of Indology at the University of Zagreb, operational for over 60 years, serves as a hub for Sanskrit, Hindi, and Indian studies. An ICCR-sponsored Hindi Chair was established in 2009 and renewed in 2019 during former President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Croatia. Following the same visit, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to set up a Sanskrit Chair, which began functioning from the fall semester of 2022.

A special Hindi poetry book, Bharat, featuring Hindi translations of Croatian poems by Drago Štambuk — Croatia’s first Ambassador to India — was released on March 20, 2024, during the celebration of Vishwa Hindi Diwas at the University of Zagreb.

Several India-oriented cultural organizations flourish in Croatia, including ISKCON, Art of Living, Bhakti Marga, and Yoga in Daily Life. Croatian students continue to pursue Indian classical dance and music on ICCR scholarships and private initiative.

Rising Indian Diaspora and Sports Collaboration

A sharp rise in the Indian diaspora has accompanied Croatia’s growing demand for foreign workers. The number of Indians in Croatia has increased from approximately 7,500 in 2022 to over 17,100 by January 2025, with the majority employed on short- to medium-term contracts.

Sports has also emerged as a unique avenue of cooperation. Croatian football legend Igor Štimac’s appointment as head coach of the Indian men’s football team in 2019 marked a milestone. Since then, several Croatian players have joined Indian clubs, while Indian footballers have undergone training programs in Croatia.

Economic and Strategic Partnership

India’s trade surplus with Croatia remains robust. In 2023-24, bilateral trade stood at US$ 291.36 million, with Indian exports valued at US$ 233.30 million and imports from Croatia at US$ 58.06 million. Key sectors include pharmaceuticals, digital technologies, and infrastructure.

Following Croatia’s entry into NATO (2009), the EU (2013), the Schengen Zone, and adoption of the Euro in 2023, Zagreb is now focused on joining the OECD. This pivot towards global institutions has also opened new avenues for India-Croatia cooperation in multilateral forums.

High-Level Engagements

High-level visits have underpinned bilateral momentum. Former Croatian President Stjepan Mesić visited India in 2002, while India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar paid the first-ever official visit by an Indian EAM to Croatia on September 3, 2021. During the visit, discussions focused on deepening collaboration across sectors and addressing global challenges.

In return, Croatian Foreign Minister Gordan Grlić Radman visited India in March 2023 to participate in the Raisina Dialogue, where a bilateral meeting led to the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on Defence Cooperation — signalling a new phase in strategic engagement.

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