On October 23^rd, 2024, the Bratislava University of Economics and Management had the honor of hosting Her Excellency Apoorva Srivastava, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Slovakia. The visit began with a brief meeting between the Ambassador and senior university staff, including the Rector Dr.h.c. assoc. prof. Ing. Ľuboš Cibák, PhD. MBA, where potential avenues for deeper collaboration were discussed.

The insightful lecture on the topic, "India as a Global and Regional Actor."  was graced by the Vice-rector for International relations, the Head of the International relations department, faculty members, staff, and a diverse group of students from various nationalities, including India, Kenya, Nigeria, China, Vietnam, Ukraine, Slovakia, Italy, Portugal, and more.

Ambassador Srivastava offered a comprehensive overview of India’s historical journey and its rise as a prominent global and regional player. She emphasized key milestones in India's development and highlighted the country’s current role on the world stage. The lecture was particularly engaging for the students, many of whom had the opportunity to learn about India’s foreign policy and global relations in a new light.

During the Q&A session, students were keen to delve deeper, posing several interesting questions on topics ranging from India's geopolitical strategies to its economic development and future collaborations. The Ambassador addressed their inquiries thoughtfully, further enriching the dialogue by discussing the current state of India-Slovakia relations and expressing her enthusiasm for fostering stronger ties between the nations.

She underscored her vision for future cooperation between our university and academic institutions in India, which was warmly received by the attendees. Following the lecture, Ambassador Srivastava generously interacted with the Indian students and university staff, taking the time to get to know them personally.

We are grateful to Ambassador Srivastava for sharing her expertise and for strengthening the connection between India and Slovakia, as well as with our university community.