Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been conferred Sweden's highest honour for a Head of Government, the Royal Order of the Polar Star, marking his 31st international award and highlighting India's rising global stature. As reported by BJP4Goa, this prestigious recognition comes during PM Modi's current visit to Sweden, which is the third leg of his five-nation tour. The conferment underscores the strong diplomatic ties between the two nations and recognizes PM Modi's leadership in advancing bilateral cooperation. Speaking at a joint press conference with Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson, PM Modi emphasized that "the Royal Order of the Polar Star honour belongs to 140 crore Indians." He thanked Sweden for the warm welcome and appreciated everyone who has contributed to strengthening India-Sweden relations over the years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson engaged with leading Swedish CEOs in Gothenburg, focusing on strategic areas of cooperation between the two nations. According to DD News, the discussions centered on AI, innovation, green transition, defence, healthcare and advanced manufacturing, reinforcing industry-led cooperation in the India-Sweden Strategic Partnership. The meeting included participation from HRH Crown Princess Victoria, highlighting the high-level nature of these strategic engagements between the two countries.
Business leaders and CEOs who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Sweden expressed strong interest in India and appreciated the country's transformation driven by sustained economic reforms over the past several years. According to reports from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), MEA Secretary (West) Sibi George stated that CEOs and senior industry leaders highlighted the significant changes they have witnessed in India in recent years. As reported by ANI, George emphasized that the reforms which continued in India over the last several years have led to the transformation of India, with all participants appreciating this transformation. Addressing reporters after the European Round Table industry meeting organised by Volvo Group, George said that "In PM Modi's meetings today with the CEOs and other senior leaders, they all highlighted their interest in India...What they have seen is a complete transformation in India in the last few years...They spoke about the reforms which continued in India over the last several years and these reforms have led to the transformation of India...They all appreciated the transformation in India."
Prime Minister Modi and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson exchanged special gifts celebrating the shared cultural legacy of Rabindranath Tagore. According to MEA Secretary Sibi George, the Swedish Prime Minister gifted PM Modi a box containing two replicas of handwritten epigrams by Tagore, along with an explanatory note and a photograph of the Nobel laureate taken during his 1921 visit to Uppsala University. The Swedish Prime Minister also presented PM Modi with a set of collected works of Rabindranath Tagore, along with a specially handcrafted bag from Shanti Niketan featuring motifs chosen by Tagore to empower local artisans. As reported by ANI, "The bag symbolises Tagore's philosophy that art is not meant to be confined to galleries, but to breathe life into everyday objects, bridging the gap between the intellectual and the functional."
PM Modi participated in the European CEO round table hosted by the Volvo Group, alongside Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, senior European industry leaders, and representatives from leading European and Indian companies. As reported by ANI, this meeting was part of PM Modi's current visit to Sweden, which is the third leg of his five-nation tour. PM Modi will later head to Norway on May 18.
