PM Modi lands in Sweden; to hold talks on trade, technology, defence

PRIME Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Gothenburg, Sweden, on Sunday as he begins the third leg of his six-nation Europe-West Asia tour, with a major focus on strengthening India’s ties with the Nordic nation in technology, clean energy, innovation and defence cooperation.

During his two-day visit from May 17 to 18, PM Modi is expected to hold key bilateral talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, interact with top Swedish industry leaders, and participate in discussions aimed at expanding investment and trade partnerships between the two countries.

Gothenburg, Sweden’s leading port city and industrial hub, will host the core engagements of the visit, including delegation-level meetings centred on green transition, digital infrastructure, advanced manufacturing and emerging technologies.

The Sweden visit comes immediately after PM Modi’s engagements in the Netherlands, where he visited the iconic Afsluitdijk Dam alongside Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof.

The visit highlighted Dutch expertise in flood protection, water management and sustainable infrastructure sectors India is keen to collaborate on for large-scale projects like Gujarat’s proposed Kalpasar Project. 

Officials from both sides also explored possibilities for deeper cooperation in climate resilience, freshwater storage systems and advanced engineering solutions, as the Prime Minister’s broader foreign tour continues to focus on technology partnerships, economic collaboration and strategic connectivity.

Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi held official talks today with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Rob Jetten, at the Dutch Prime Minister's official residence (Catshuis) in The Hague.

2. The two Prime Ministers held wide-ranging discussions on strengthening the India-Netherlands relationship. Reflecting the shared values and trust, as well as increasing convergence and growing cooperation between the two countries, the leaders decided to elevate the bilateral relationship to a "Strategic Partnership".

They also agreed to adopt an ambitious Roadmap for Strategic Partnership to deepen cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, defence and security, emerging and critical technologies, maritime sector, renewable energy and education.

Taking note of expanding business, investment, technology and innovation partnerships, the leaders noted that opportunities presented by the Indian growth story offer promising business prospects to Dutch companies.

3. Both leaders noted with satisfaction the progress in bilateral cooperation driven by continuous high-level exchanges. Underscoring the significance of cooperation in WAH [Water, Agriculture and Health], they agreed to further intensify the Strategic Partnership on Water through collaboration on large-scale water projects. The Prime Ministers also welcomed the expanding cooperation across key sectors, including healthcare research, digital health, agriculture, and food safety.

4. During the talks, the leaders attached importance to expanding the trade and investment relationship between the two countries. Acknowledging the transformative potential of the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, they called for its early signing and implementation. They also affirmed that India-Netherlands cooperation in critical minerals will support resilient supply chains.

5. The two leaders also called for greater collaboration in emerging technologies, including AI and Semiconductors. They also encouraged holding a hackathon involving the youths of the two countries. Committing to strengthen cooperation in renewable energy, they highlighted the importance of cooperation in green hydrogen, biofuels, green shipping and maritime logistics to ensure a sustainable future.

Both Prime Ministers expressed support for the new initiatives undertaken to strengthen mobility partnership and cooperation in higher education. In this regard, they took special note of the agreement concluded between Nalanda University and Groningen University.

6. Highlighting the strong cultural relations between the two nations, Prime Minister Modi thanked the Dutch Government for facilitating the return of the 11th-century Chola plates. In this regard, the two leaders also welcomed the collaboration between Leiden University Library and the Archaeological Survey of India, which will help advance knowledge of these historic artefacts.

7.​ Following the official talks, 14 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding were concluded in the fields of technology,green energy, trade, mobility, WAH, education and culture [Link]. A Joint Statement [Link] as well as the Roadmap on Strategic Partnership [Link] were adopted on the occasion of the Visit.

8. Prime Minister Modi invited Prime Minister Jetten to visit India which he accepted.

9. India and the Netherlands enjoy a strong bilateral relationship grounded in shared democratic values and multi-faceted cooperation across diverse sectors. Prime Minister Modi's visit to the Netherlands marks a significant milestone in this partnership.