Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Sweden visit underscores India’s push to deepen strategic and economic engagement with Nordic nations through partnerships in technology, green transition, defence, innovation and resilient supply chains amid evolving global competition.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Sweden on Sunday for a two-day visit focused on expanding cooperation in trade, technology, defence and several emerging sectors between the two countries.
PM Modi received a colourful welcome from the Indian diaspora after reaching his hotel in Gothenburg, where members of the community organised a traditional Bengali cultural performance in his honour.
সারা বিশ্বেই বাঙালি সংস্কৃতি অত্যন্ত জনপ্রিয়। সুইডেনও এর ব্যতিক্রম নয়।
আয়োজিত অভ্যর্থনা অনুষ্ঠানে, প্রধানমন্ত্রী ক্রিস্টারসনের উপস্থিতিতে, গৌরবোজ্জ্বল বাঙালি সংস্কৃতির এক অনবদ্য নমুনা প্রদর্শিত হয়েছে।@SwedishPM pic.twitter.com/DjQigJE4Zn
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 17, 2026
Women dressed in traditional attire performed energetic folk dances and ceremonial rituals inspired by Bengali cultural traditions, creating a festive atmosphere. Supporters waving Indian flags gathered at the venue to greet the prime minister, blending Indian cultural celebrations with the backdrop of the Swedish city.
As Modi’s aircraft approached Gothenburg, it was escorted by fighter jets from the Swedish Air Force. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson personally welcomed Modi at the airport, underscoring the significance Stockholm attaches to the visit.
During his stay, Modi is scheduled to hold discussions with Kristersson on strengthening bilateral relations and identifying new opportunities for cooperation. The talks are expected to focus on expanding trade ties, which reached USD 7.75 billion in 2025.
India and Sweden are expected to deepen collaboration in areas including green transition, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, startups, resilient supply chains, defence, space, climate initiatives and people-to-people exchanges.
Modi previously visited Sweden in 2018 to attend the first India-Nordic Summit.
”The two prime ministers will also address the European Round Table for Industry, a leading pan-European business leaders forum, along with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission,” the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement.
This is the second leg of Modi’s four-nation Europe tour. He has already visited the Netherlands, where he inked 17 agreements to boost cooperation in defence, critical minerals and other key sectors. Later this week, he will also visit Norway and Italy.
With inputs from agencies
First Published:
May 17, 2026, 21:02 IST
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