“A Partnership of Ideas, Technology, Innovation and Co Creation”: PM Modi’s Sweden Visit Sharpens India–EU Vision

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Gothenburg on 17–18 May 2026 placed India–Sweden ties firmly inside a wider India–EU frame, as he described the relationship as “a partnership of ideas, technology, innovation and co‑creation” and invited European industry to treat India as a trusted long‑term partner. The visit combined high‑level political meetings, strategic upgrades and intensive outreach to European business leaders.

India and Sweden deepen a future-focused strategic partnership driven by innovation, technology, sustainability, and resilient global growth.

Strategic upgrade with European implications

During bilateral talks, Prime Minister Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson agreed to elevate India–Sweden relations to a Strategic Partnership, anchored in four pillars: a Strategic Dialogue for Stability and Security; a Next‑Generation Economic Partnership; Emerging Technologies and Trusted Connectivity; and “Shaping Tomorrow Together” focused on people, planet, health and resilience.

The two leaders adopted an India–Sweden Joint Action Plan 2026–2030 to guide work across political, economic, technology, climate and societal domains. This upgrade comes just after negotiations on the India–EU Free Trade Agreement were successfully concluded, giving the Sweden leg of the Prime Minister’s Europe tour a clear India–EU dimension.

India–Europe message from the ERT platform

In Gothenburg, Prime Minister Modi addressed the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Swedish business leaders. In his keynote remarks, he highlighted “the growing strategic convergence between India and Europe” and called for trusted partnerships to build resilient and diversified supply chains.

He welcomed “the growing momentum in India–EU relations, including the successful conclusion of negotiations of the landmark India–EU Free Trade Agreement”, describing it as a transformative economic partnership that will create new opportunities in trade, technology, manufacturing, services and supply chains. Modi reiterated India’s vision of “Design for India, Make in India and Export from India” and invited European companies to deepen their engagement with India as “a trusted and reliable economic partner”.

India and Sweden combine innovation, talent, and technology to co-create resilient growth for the 21st century.

Pitching India as Europe’s growth partner

At a separate interaction with select Swedish business leaders, Prime Minister Modi underlined that India and Sweden are “connected by shared values of democracy, transparency, innovation and sustainability”, which provide a strong foundation for “an ambitious and forward‑looking economic partnership”.

He stressed that the partnership “is not merely an economic relationship, but a partnership of ideas, technology, innovation and co‑creation”.

Modi highlighted India’s rapid economic transformation driven by reforms, strong domestic demand, digital public infrastructure, manufacturing expansion and next‑generation infrastructure development.

He invited Swedish and European companies to enhance their presence in India under initiatives such as Make in India, the National Green Hydrogen Mission and the National Critical Mineral Mission, pointing to opportunities in clean energy, defence, semiconductors and advanced manufacturing.

The discussions with Swedish business leaders and the ERT focused on resilient supply chains, green transition, sustainable mobility, life sciences, digital technologies and deep‑tech manufacturing—areas where European technology and India’s scale and talent can be combined “to co‑create solutions for the 21st century”.

India–EU narrative through the Sweden stop

Throughout his engagements, the Prime Minister positioned Sweden as a key innovation‑driven partner in Europe at a time when India and the EU are seeking to operationalise their new trade and technology frameworks.

By linking Sweden’s strengths in sustainability and research with India’s market, workforce and reform agenda, Modi framed the Gothenburg visit as part of a broader effort to make India a central node in Europe’s long‑term economic and industrial strategy.