Minister for Foreign Affairs visits India
Published
Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard travelled to India on 17–18 March to take part in the Raisina Dialogue, a conference on security policy. She was accompanied by a delegation of Swedish industry representatives who met with Indian counterparts within the framework of the India Sweden Business Leaders’ Roundtable. In meetings with India’s External Affairs Minister and Minister of Commerce and Industry, Ms Malmer Stenergard discussed how Sweden’s and Europe’s partnership with India can become even stronger.
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Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard meeting with India's External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi
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Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard speaks at India-Sweden Business Roundtable.
Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi
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Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard meets with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal.
Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi
The Raisina Dialogue has been held annually in New Delhi since 2016 and attracts high-level international participants. The conference commenced on Monday evening, with India’s Prime Minister Narenda Modi among those in attendance. In the margins of the conference, Ms Malmer Stenergard met with her Indian counterpart External Affairs Minister Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and Ukraine’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha. On Tuesday, she also took part in a panel discussion on European security and defence policy, together with Luxembourg’s foreign minister, the Netherlands’ defence minister and others.
During her visit, Ms Malmer Stenergard also met with India’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal and led a meeting between Swedish and Indian business representatives, within the framework of the India Sweden Business Leaders’ Roundtable. Discussion topics included how Sweden’s trade ties with India can become even stronger and negotiations between the EU and India regarding a free trade agreement.
The visit concluded with an inauguration ceremony for a new Swedish trade and investment office in India. Ms Malmer Stenergard took part together with CEO of Business Sweden Jan Larsson. This new trade office in Mumbai will be the third office that Business Sweden operates in India.
Sweden’s trade ties with India
Business Sweden is opening its third trade and investment promotion office in the country in Mumbai. The aim is to have presence in India’s financial hub and the industrial region in western India. More than 100 Swedish businesses, such as Tetra Pak, SKF, Sandvik and Alfa Laval, have operations in the city of Pune and its surroundings. Business Sweden’s other offices in India are located in New Delhi and Bengaluru.
Mumbai is one of the world’s 10 largest trade hubs. Eight of India’s 10 largest corporate groups are based in Mumbai and the region accounts for 25 per cent of India’s industrial production. A Swedish consulate-general with posted staff was established there in 2012. A stronger Swedish presence in Mumbai means increased opportunities to support both Swedish exports to India and Indian direct investments in Sweden.
More than 280 Swedish businesses are active in India and trade ties are growing steadily. Sweden’s exports to India in 2024 totalled SEK 22 billion, a 17 per cent increase from the previous year. Swedish imports from India amounted to SEK 13 billion in 2024, a 16 per cent increase.
