Celebrating 75 years of bilateral relations, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), Government of Maharashtra and the Sweden India Business Council (SIBC) on Saturday with a focus on waste-to-energy initiatives, financial services, sustainable infrastructure and transportation, and defence sector manufacturing.
The Consulate General of Sweden in Mumbai and the Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi have started a year-long programme to celebrate 75 years of bilateral relations between Sweden and India with the visit of Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Trade Håkan Jevrell and several high-ranking leaders of Swedish industry to Pune. Under this programme , ‘Sweden India Leaders’ Round Table on Innovation and Sustainability was organised at Hotel The Ritz-Carlton, Pune, on Saturday.
At the event, the Consulate General of Sweden in Mumbai, Anna Lekvall, recently appointed Swedish Ambassador to India, Mr Jan Thesleff, and Indian Ambassador to Sweden Mr Tanmaya Lal were present.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis participated in a closed-door round table discussion with select CEOs of Indian and Swedish companies.
Speaking on the occasion, Jevrell said: “It is my great pleasure to join you in Pune today as we celebrate several milestones of Sweden in India – 75 years of bilateral relations between our two countries. I look forward to the opportunities to celebrate our partnership over the year. I feel great optimism for where we will go in the future.”
Fadnavis said, “India and Sweden have had longstanding close relations based on common values, strong business, investment and R&D linkages and similar approaches to meet global challenges of peace & security and development. I am happy to see that Swedish companies have a major and growing presence in India. Maharashtra’s importance for the relationship between India and Sweden to strengthen further is strategic.”
He further said, “I heard earlier today that of the 260 Swedish companies in India, 43 are in Pune, including some of the largest manufacturers. The commitment from governments and businesses from both sides will ensure even greater collaborations over the next 75 years.”
