Nordic countries and India pledge to deepen cooperation

The prime ministers of the Nordic countries and India agreed to establish a strategic partnership on green technologies and innovation at the India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on Tuesday 19 May. The leaders identified opportunities for cooperation in areas such as clean and climate-friendly solutions and in the 6G, space technology and artificial intelligence sectors. Finland was represented at the Summit by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.

Discussions at the summit focused on trade relations as well as topical international developments and UN issues. Prime Minister Orpo opened a discussion on the current geopolitical situation.

“We are seeing rapid and unpredictable changes in the international operating environment. Security, the economy and technology are becoming increasingly intertwined. The rules-based international system is facing more and more challenges. In the discussions, I emphasised that the Nordic countries and the EU are reliable partners. We will continue to work together with India to defend the rules-based international system and build partnerships,” said Prime Minister Orpo.

At the summit, the leaders agreed that the next India-Nordic summit would be hosted by Finland. The previous summits were held in Stockholm in 2018 and in Copenhagen in 2022.
Before the summit, Prime Minister Orpo met for bilateral discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. They last met in February in India.

“The strategic partnership on digitalisation and sustainability that Finland and India agreed on in March is an important step forward in our relations. Our aim is to at least double our bilateral trade, which is currently around three billion euros. Finland can offer India world-class expertise to support its dynamic development. Our cooperation will open doors for Finnish companies,” Prime Minister Orpo said.

Finland’s expertise will also be highlighted in the autumn when India hosts the next World Circular Economy Forum.

In connection with the summit in Oslo, the Nordic prime ministers held a meeting on topical security policy issues, such as support for Ukraine and matters related to NATO.

Inquiries: Laura Quist, Diplomatic Adviser to the Prime Minister, tel. +358 50 439 1677 and Anne Sjöholm, Head of Communications for EU and International Affairs, tel. +358 40 537 0733, Prime Minister’s Office