Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrived in Vadodara early Monday (October 28, 2024), marking his first official visit to India. Sanchez’s flight landed at the Vadodara airport at around 1:30 a.m. Following his arrival, he is set to participate in several high-profile events with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The visit’s highlight will be a joint inauguration of the Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) facility, a significant step forward for India’s defence manufacturing capabilities. Located in Vadodara, the TASL complex will be the first private sector final assembly line for military aircraft in India, producing 40 C-295 aircraft under an agreement with Airbus, which will deliver an additional 16 aircraft directly. This facility will manage the complete lifecycle of the aircraft, from manufacturing to assembly, testing, qualification, and maintenance.
Mr. Modi and Mr. Sanchez are also expected to participate in a roadshow before holding bilateral discussions at the historic Laxmi Vilas Palace, organized by India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). After the meeting, they will enjoy lunch at the palace.
Following his schedule, Sanchez will continue his visit with a stop in Mumbai on Tuesday (October 29) before his departure for Spain around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday (October 30). This visit strengthens India-Spain ties and emphasizes India’s growing focus on defence self-reliance.