Title : INDIA SWEDAN RELATIONS

Date : Jan 31, 2022

Description :

Based on a News Article published in the ‘The Hindu’

 

Useful for UPSC CSE Prelims and Mains (GS Paper I & II)

 

Background:

 

• The Prime Minister of India and the Prime Minister of Sweden recently conducted a virtual summit to discuss bilateral concerns as well as other regional and international matters of mutual relevance.
• The Summit gave a chance to examine the international situation and reaction to the Covid-19 epidemic, as well as regional and global topics of mutual concern, including as climate action, sustainable development, gender equality, counter-terrorism, and disaster-resilient infrastructure.

 

The Summit's Highlights include:

 

• Economic Cooperation: Applauded the initiation of a second collaborative industrial R&D call under the India-Sweden Collaborative Industrial Research & Development Programme on Smart and Sustainable Cities, Transportation Systems, Clean Technologies, Digitalization, and Internet of Things.
• Confirmed the goal of doubling bilateral research and innovation on the circular economy by 2021, with a focus on health and life sciences, as well as waste to wealth.
• Other Sectors: Applauded the establishment of a Sweden-India Health Hub at AIIMS-Jodhpur.
• Advances in hydrogen research and potential uses, such as in the energy and other critical industries, have been noted.
• Collaboration in Multilateral Forums: Sweden's decision to join the International Solar Alliance was warmly welcomed (ISA).
• Sweden congratulated India on being elected to the United Nations Security Council for the eighth time in 2021-2022.
• Reaffirmed the significance of urgent UN Security Council reform, including its expansion, not only to maintain multilateralism's legitimacy, but also to address the many significant collective issues that mankind faces.
• India expressed gratitude to Sweden for its support for India's permanent membership in the UN Security Council, which has been reformed and expanded.
• India welcomed Sweden on its assumption of the OSCE Chairmanship (Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe).
• Climate Action: Applauded the United States' re-entry into the Paris Agreement, which provides a boost to global climate action ahead of COP 26 in Glasgow, United Kingdom.
• They agreed to keep reaching out to broaden the Leadership Group on Industry Transition's membership (LeadIT).
• They also agreed to strengthen their collaboration within the Arctic Council to address global environmental protection and climate change.
• Security: The General Security Agreement on the exchange and mutual protection of classified information was finalised in 2019, allowing for a complete partnership in all defence areas.
• The Indian Prime Minister asked Swedish defence companies to join the "Make in India" initiative, particularly in the two Defense Production Corridors in Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Relations between India and Sweden:

 

• In December 2020, the King and Queen of Sweden paid a Royal Visit to India.
• Relationships Economic and Commercial: The two countries' bilateral trade is currently valued at roughly USD 2 billion. India is Sweden's third-largest Asian trading partner, behind China and Japan.
• Articles of clothes, clothing accessories; textiles yarn, fabrics, made-ups; metal manufactures; road vehicles; general industrial machinery and equipment are the primary commodities of Indian exports to Sweden.
• Pulp and waste paper, road vehicles, paper and paperboard, general industrial gear and equipment, and other commodities are the principal items imported by India from Sweden.
• Sweden, as a member of the European Union, can play a key role in India's partnership with the EU and EU countries.
• Democracy, rule of law, pluralism, equality, freedom of speech, and respect for human rights will all benefit from the tight ties.

 

The India-Nordic Summit is the first of its kind:

 

• It took place in April of this year.
• The summit was held to strengthen cooperation between India and five Nordic countries: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark.

 

Nordic's Importance in India:

 

• Key topics of security, economic growth, and climate change are discussed.
• India can learn from the Nordic approach to innovation systems, which is characterised by substantial collaboration across the public, private, and academic sectors.
• Nordic solutions can be beneficial in fields such as clean technology, maritime solutions, port modernisation, food processing, health, life sciences, and agriculture.

 

 

 

Industry Transition Leadership Group:

 

• The Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) brings together countries and businesses dedicated to implementing the Paris Agreement.
• It was introduced in September 2019 at the UN Climate Action Summit by the governments of Sweden and India, with backing from the World Economic Forum.
• LeadIT members believe that energy-intensive industries can and must go forward on low-carbon paths, with the goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Tags : foreign relations, UN Climate Action Summit