President Ram Nath Kovind has been awarded the Grand Order of King Tomislav with Sash and Grand Star by the President of Croatia for his exceptional contribution to the advancement of overall relations and development of mutual cooperation between India and Croatia and for promoting friendship and partnership between the people of both the countries.

This is the highest award of the Republic of Croatia.

President Kovind said, the two countries have agreed to work together to develop a strong global response to eliminate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and to seek accountability and action from those responsible for barbaric acts like Pulwama terror attack.

He was delivering a Press Statement, after the delegation level talks with his Croatian counterpart Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic.

Mr Kovind said, he had productive discussions with his Croatian counterpart, covering all aspects of the relationship between the two countries. He also invited the Croatian companies to forge technology and investment tie-ups in India.

Mr Kovind reached Croatian capital Zagreb last evening on the first leg of his three-nation tour to Croatia, Bolivia and Chile. He was accorded a ceremonial reception today at the President House of Croatia.