External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar stressed that India’s engagement
with the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) has expanded in the last few years, adding
that “appropriate institutional frameworks” with countries in the grouping are
also being established for “closer business-to-business cooperation.”
Addressing the second CII India Nordic Baltic Business Conclave in the
national capital, Jaishankar said, “Our engagement with the NB8 countries has
expanded clearly in the last few years. We opened our embassies in Tallinn in
December 2021 and in Vilnius this year in March.”
He said that India will be opening a resident embassy in Latvia very
soon. Moreover, he said, “Finland has opened a consulate in Mumbai.”
Jaishankar highlighted the increase in mobility between India and
Finland. “Direct flights between India and Finland and India to Denmark are
facilitating mobility between our countries.”
“Appropriate institutional frameworks with NB8 countries are also being
established for closer business-to-business cooperation. With Finland, we have
established sustainability partnerships, digitalization, and education
dialogue,” said the External Affairs Minister.
Jaishankar also noted the relations with Denmark, stating, “With Denmark,
our green strategic partnership is strengthening and facilitating
collaborations in water solutions, wind energy, green hydrogen, and
agriculture. We also look forward to stronger cooperation with the Faroe
Islands and with Greenland.”
As many as 18 nations and 19 major global companies have joined India’s
leadership for industry transition with Sweden the LeadIT initiative, which he
said has clearly borne fruit in the last few years.
“More than 260 Swedish companies are in India, working in innovation, in
construction, in defence, and in clean technology,” he said.
Saab, the Swedish Aeroplane Corporation, is going to set up a
manufacturing facility in India, he said.
Meanwhile, India and Iceland are working closely on harnessing geothermal
energy in Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. Similar projects are being planned for
Northeast India.
“Efforts are on to establish a centre for excellence in cold and warm
water fisheries. We have also forged strong cooperation with Norway to harness
the potential of the blue economy, wind, and geothermal energy, as well as
polar studies, green shipping, water management, space, and health,” Jaishankar
said.
With the Baltic nations, India has been conducting official-level
interactions and is seeking to explore new avenues for stronger cooperation in
e-governance, cyberspace, the internet of things, startups, defence technology,
supply chain, and logistics. “There is clearly, however, much more work to be
done,” Jaishankar said.
The second CII India Nordic Baltic Business Conclave is significant as it
reflects the growing awareness of two regions about the possibilities and
opportunities in cooperation, the Union Minister said.
“This certainly speaks of a more globalised era, but from India’s
perspective, it also speaks of an expanding footprint. The Baltic Sea and the
Arctic region have re-emerged in strategic prominence, and conversations about
future connectivity and logistics have business implications as well,” stated the
Ministry of External Affairs.
Notably, the NB8 countries collectively represent an economy of more than
USD 2 trillion, with a population of about 33 million and a high standard of
living.
Jaishankar further recalled the first two India-Nordic Summits that were
held in Stockholm in April 2018 and in Copenhagen in May 2022, respectively.
“On these occasions, our leaders underlined the importance of a
rule-based multilateral trading system, as well as an open and inclusive
international order for global prosperity and growth,” he said.
They discussed vital issues relating to global security, economic growth,
innovation, digital transformation, and climate change. We certainly noted the
role of Nordic countries as innovation leaders in global growth.
“Now, along with the Nordic nations, the Baltic states too are at the
forefront of innovations, start-ups, tech applications, and digital progress,”
he added.
ANI
