Focussing on trade, green transition, strategic tech cooperation
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Gothenburg, Sweden on Sunday for a two-day official visit, marking the third leg of his ongoing five-nation tour across Europe and the Gulf region after concluding his engagements in the Netherlands. The visit, undertaken at the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, is expected to further strengthen India-Sweden ties with a strong focus on trade, green transition, innovation, advanced technologies and strategic cooperation amid rapidly evolving global economic and geopolitical dynamics.
“Landed in Gothenburg, Sweden. I will be meeting Prime Minister Kristersson with the aim of advancing the India-Sweden friendship in trade, investments, innovation, defence and more,” Modi said in a post on social media platform X.
“With PM Kristersson and President of the European Commission, Ms. Ursula von der Leyen, I will be meeting European business leaders at the European Business Round Table for Industry. This will also deepen investment linkages between India and Europe,” he added.
In a separate post on X, he also thanked Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson for receiving him at the airport. “I’m grateful to Prime Minister Kristersson for the special gesture of coming to receive me at Gothenburg airport. Looking forward to boosting India-Sweden friendship in this important visit,” Modi said.
The Prime Minister’s visit came at a time when India is intensifying engagement with European partners to diversify supply chains, accelerate clean energy collaboration and deepen technological partnerships. Modi’s Sweden trip also assumes significance as it is his first visit to Europe since the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement came into effect in January 2026, opening new avenues for trade and investment cooperation between India and European economies.
During the visit, Modi and Kristersson are expected to hold wide-ranging bilateral discussions covering cooperation in defence manufacturing, artificial intelligence, resilient supply chains, startups, emerging technologies, climate action, space collaboration and people-to-people exchanges. Officials said the talks would also review progress in ongoing partnerships and explore fresh opportunities for collaboration in sectors critical to future economic growth and strategic resilience.
Economic engagement is expected to remain a central pillar of the discussions, with bilateral trade between India and Sweden reaching a record 7.75 billion US dollars in 2025. Swedish investments in India have also steadily expanded, totaling more than 2.8 billion dollars between 2000 and 2025. Both countries are expected to explore ways to further expand trade and industrial cooperation, particularly in green technologies, advanced manufacturing and digital innovation.
The two leaders will also jointly address the European Round Table for Industry alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The forum, which brings together leading European business leaders, is expected to focus on industrial competitiveness, sustainable economic growth and emerging opportunities arising from stronger India-Europe economic integration following the implementation of the India-EU trade agreement.
India and Sweden have steadily strengthened strategic ties over the past decade, particularly after Modi’s landmark 2018 visit to Sweden, which resulted in the launch of the Joint Innovation Partnership for a Sustainable Future. The initiative laid the foundation for closer collaboration in smart cities, renewable energy, clean technologies, healthcare and sustainable urban development. Since then, both countries have expanded cooperation in innovation-driven sectors while maintaining regular high-level political engagement.
The visit also reflects India’s broader effort to build stronger partnerships with technologically advanced European nations at a time when global supply chains are undergoing major restructuring. Sweden, known for its strengths in innovation, sustainability and advanced manufacturing, is viewed by India as an important partner in areas such as clean energy transition, digital transformation and next-generation industrial technologies.
Officials said discussions during the visit are also expected to focus on enhancing collaboration in research, innovation ecosystems and startup partnerships, areas where both countries see strong complementarities. Climate action and sustainable development are likely to feature prominently in the talks as India and Sweden seek to expand cooperation in clean mobility, renewable energy and circular economy initiatives.
Modi’s Sweden visit follows high-level engagements in the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands and forms part of India’s broader diplomatic outreach aimed at strengthening political, economic and strategic partnerships with key global players. The multi-nation tour underscores New Delhi’s emphasis on building resilient international partnerships in trade, technology, energy and security amid increasing global uncertainty and shifting geopolitical alignments.
Agencies