Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Sweden visit during his five-nation tour, Swedish industry leaders have praised the growing India-Sweden partnership and expressed confidence in India's economic growth and talent pool. Volvo Group CTO Jens Holtinger described Modi's visit as reflecting strong bilateral ties, highlighting Volvo's 25-year presence in India, its nearly 5,000 employees, and its second-largest global R&D centre in the country. Speaking to ANI, Holtinger described the visit as "a great honour" and said it reflects the strong connection between Sweden and India. Volvo Group India President and Managing Director Kamal Bali described the trip as "a very significant and a big milestone" in India-Sweden relations, emphasizing that the partnership is built on "transparency, trust and understanding." Bali noted that businesses are optimistic about India's economic growth, domestic demand and skilled workforce in manufacturing and digital sectors, stating it will open further opportunities for business on both sides.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Sweden for the first time since 2018, marking a significant diplomatic milestone. According to reports from the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit is scheduled for May 17-18, 2026, and comes at the invitation of Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The two-day trip to Gothenburg is aimed at strengthening cooperation in trade, investment and technology between the two countries. Indian Ambassador to Sweden Anurag Bhushan said there is "a lot of enthusiasm" surrounding Modi's visit to Sweden, especially in Gothenburg, noting that PM Modi will hold bilateral talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and interact with European and Swedish CEOs to boost trade and investment ties. Bhushan highlighted that "the Prime Minister is immensely popular in Sweden, there's a lot of enthusiasm all around Sweden. But especially in Gothenburg, I find a lot of energy because this is the first visit of the Prime Minister to Gothenburg."
The bilateral talks are expected to cover the full range of India-Sweden ties, with discussions focused on investment, trade and technology partnerships. As reported by the Ministry of External Affairs, the agenda includes cooperation in green transition, artificial intelligence, resilient supply chains, space and climate action. Both leaders are also likely to meet business representatives and industry leaders to deepen economic engagement between the two countries. According to ANI, PM Modi will hold formal talks with PM Kristersson, followed by delegation-level discussions on trade, investment, and emerging technologies. The visit aims to "review the entire gamut of bilateral relations" and identify new areas of cooperation amid evolving geopolitical and economic challenges.
The visit forms part of India's wider engagement with Europe and comes amid ongoing discussions on free trade and strategic cooperation between India and the European Union. According to reports from Hindustan Times, the two sides are expected to review progress under existing cooperation frameworks, including innovation partnerships launched after the 2018 India-Nordic Summit. India and Sweden share strong ties in innovation-led sectors, with Sweden emerging as a key European partner in startups, research and advanced technology. India's Ambassador to Sweden Anurag Bhushan has highlighted Sweden's position as a global innovation hub, noting that Gothenburg is "the heart of Swedish industry and an innovation-based ecosystem" with "a lot of universities, institutions, science and technology establishments, and more importantly, it is also a centre for the Indian diaspora." The visit will position Sweden as a key Nordic partner in India's green-transition, digital-innovation, and defence-technology agendas.
Trade and investment links between India and Sweden have expanded in recent years, and both sides are expected to discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in digital technology and sustainable development. As reported by Hindustan Times, officials said India and Sweden share strong ties in innovation-led sectors, with Sweden emerging as a key European partner in startups, research and advanced technology. The economic impact of the ongoing Iran-US conflict is also expected to figure in the discussions during the Sweden visit. Ambassador Bhushan has emphasized that the visit will encourage Swedish companies to participate in India's Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives. Ambassador to Norway Gloria Gangte said several agreements are expected across sectors including space, health, maritime, technology and green energy, noting that the India-EFTA trade agreement has already boosted ties and sparked growing interest in India's maritime sector. Chief Executive Officer of Business Region Goteborg Patrik Andersson highlighted the growing Indian presence in Gothenburg, noting that since 2015, a growing number of Indians have been moving to Gothenburg for work, higher education and research opportunities. He noted that "from 2015, a lot of Indians have been coming here to work, to study and to go to the universities to research" and that "it is fantastic that India has put their eyes on Sweden."
