Indian Prime Minister Modi to Attend Nordic Summit in Northern Europe

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend a summit in Oslo, Norway, alongside leaders from five Nordic countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark. The three-day meeting is the third edition of the India-Nordic summit, which aims to strengthen strategic and trade ties between the two regions.

The summit comes after recent agreements between India and the European Union on a free trade agreement, as well as a trade and economic partnership agreement with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland. The meeting is also significant in light of ongoing global events, including Russia’s war on Ukraine, US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on global imports, and the US-Israel conflict on Iran.

The agenda for this year’s summit includes discussions on technology, green transition, energy security, and geopolitical issues. Indian Prime Minister Modi will be joined by leaders from the five Nordic countries, including Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Icelandic Prime Minister Kristrún Frostadottir, and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.

The summit is expected to focus on trade, climate change, energy security, and defense cooperation. Indian exports of pharmaceuticals, machinery, and consumer goods are likely to be discussed, as well as Nordic exports of green technology, renewable energy, and industrial machinery to India. The meeting will also explore opportunities for bilateral trade and investment ties between India and the Nordic countries.

According to a statement by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, the summit aims to enhance strategic cooperation in areas such as technology, innovation, green transition, and defense. Indian companies have significant investments in the Nordic region, including Finland’s Nokia and Sweden’s Volvo and IKEA. The meeting is also expected to promote resilient supply chains following recent trade agreements between India and the European Union and India and Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

The summit will take place on May 11, with Indian Prime Minister Modi marking his first visit to Norway in 43 years since Indira Gandhi’s 1983 visit. Experts believe that the meeting will provide an opportunity for India to capitalize on the unique capabilities of each Nordic country and deepen trade and investment linkages.

Source: Al Jazeera