Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, revealed expanded cooperation areas between India and Sweden. The new focus includes innovation, emerging technologies, AI, space, geospatial technology, and the green transition. Concrete outcomes of the meeting involve launching a joint innovation partnership 2.0 and establishing a science and technology center to link academic institutions in both nations.
A leadership group named LEAD-IT, co-chaired by India and Sweden, was introduced to drive the global movement for green transition in heavy industry. Kristersson emphasized the longstanding collaboration between Indian Space Research Organisation and Sweden’s National Space Agency, dating back to the 1980s. Both agencies have recently signed an MoU to collaborate on an instrument for the Venus orbiter mission.
The Swedish PM expressed optimism about doubling bilateral trade and investments with India within five years, aiming for an even earlier achievement. He viewed the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) as the start of a new journey, emphasizing the commitment of Sweden, India, and European allies to maximize the partnership’s potential. Kristersson highlighted the estimated job creation in Sweden due to the India-European Union (EU) FTA, with a significant number of new jobs expected in the Gothenburg region.
