India-Nordic Partnership Enters ‘New Golden Era’: PM Modi at Third India-Nordic Summit.
New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced a major expansion of India’s strategic and economic engagement with Nordic nations during the Third India-Nordic Summit, describing the evolving relationship as the beginning of a “new golden era” in bilateral cooperation.
Addressing a joint press statement alongside leaders from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Iceland and other Nordic nations, the Prime Minister highlighted the deepening ties in trade, investment, green technology, innovation, defence, digital infrastructure and global governance.
The summit, hosted by Norway, focused on strengthening collaboration between India and Nordic countries amid growing global economic and geopolitical challenges.
Shared Democratic Values Strengthening Ties
Prime Minister Modi said the shared commitment of India and Nordic countries towards democracy, rule of law and multilateralism has made them “natural partners.” He noted that common priorities in sustainability and advanced technology have further accelerated cooperation.
Recalling the launch of the India-Nordic Summit format eight years ago, the Prime Minister said the initiative was designed to inject “energy and momentum” into relations with Nordic countries.
Trade and Investment Witness Major Growth
Highlighting economic progress, the Prime Minister stated that bilateral trade between India and Nordic nations has increased nearly fourfold over the past decade. Investments from Nordic countries into India have also risen by approximately 200 percent during the same period.
He said Nordic investment funds are becoming important contributors to India’s rapid economic growth while also generating thousands of jobs in Nordic economies.
According to the Prime Minister, the strong trade and investment foundation has enabled both sides to move their relationship to the “next level.”
Landmark Trade Agreements Boost Cooperation
Prime Minister Modi referred to the implementation of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries, including Norway and Iceland, from October 2025.
He also mentioned the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement involving Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
The Prime Minister said these “ambitious trade agreements” would usher in a transformative phase in India-Nordic relations.
Green Technology and Innovation Partnership Announced
One of the key outcomes of the summit was the decision to elevate India-Nordic ties into a “Green Technology and Innovation Strategic Partnership.”
Prime Minister Modi said the initiative would combine India’s scale and talent with Nordic expertise in sustainability-focused sectors. He specifically highlighted:
Iceland’s strengths in geothermal energy and fisheries
Norway’s expertise in blue economy and Arctic studies
Nordic leadership in maritime technologies and sustainability
Sweden’s advanced manufacturing and defence sectors
Finland’s telecom and digital technology capabilities
Denmark’s cyber security and health-tech innovation
The Prime Minister said the collaboration would help create “trusted solutions” for the world.
Focus on Research, Startups and Talent Mobility
The summit also emphasized strengthening research and innovation ties between India and Nordic countries.
Prime Minister Modi announced plans to deepen linkages between universities, laboratories and startup ecosystems. Cooperation in Arctic and polar research will also be expanded.
Additionally, both sides agreed to create new opportunities for skill development and talent mobility between India and Nordic countries.
Strong Message on Global Conflicts and Terrorism
Discussing global issues, Prime Minister Modi said India and Nordic nations support a rules-based global order amid rising international tensions and conflicts.
Referring to ongoing crises in Ukraine and West Asia, he reiterated support for peace efforts and the early end of conflicts.
The Prime Minister also stressed the urgent need for reforms in multilateral institutions and delivered a strong message against terrorism, stating “No compromise. No double standards.”
‘Sambandh’ Symbolises Shared Vision
Concluding his remarks, Prime Minister Modi referred to the word “Sambandh” (relationship), noting that it carries similar meanings in several Nordic languages as well as in Hindi.
He described the linguistic similarity as symbolic of the closeness in values and vision shared by India and Nordic countries.
Calling for deeper cooperation across sectors, the Prime Minister urged all participating nations to transform the India-Nordic partnership into a global model of shared prosperity, innovation and sustainable development.
