India-Sweden Strategic Compass; Vol.4, No.5, September-October 2025

The past few months have witnessed a vibrant phase in Indo-Swedish relations, marked by a wide range of engagements spanning clean energy, circular manufacturing, artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and smart cities. Sweden continues to position its partnership with India around the twin pillars of innovation and sustainability. As Ambassador Jan Thesleff remarked at the launch of Time for Sweden in New Delhi, bilateral ties are “future-oriented and anchored in the green transition.” The flagship event spotlighted Sweden’s capabilities in clean energy, smart industry, and digital transformation, while underscoring Swedish companies’ long-term commitment to India’s growth journey. This forward-looking vision was further strengthened by the visit of a Swedish SME delegation in September 2025 under Business Sweden’s Focus Asia program.

Momentum was equally visible at the 12th India-Sweden Innovation Day held in Stockholm, co-organized by the Embassy of India in Sweden. The event reaffirmed the growing synergy between diplomacy, technology, and climate action—an especially timely dialogue in the run-up to COP 30. Meanwhile, progress continued on broader economic fronts. Negotiations on the EU-India Free Trade Agreement (FTA) advanced steadily, with both sides reiterating their aim to conclude the pact by the end of 2025 and to operationalize the IMEEC corridor. The adoption of the new Strategic EU-India Agenda by the EU Council was welcomed as a step toward deepening cooperation in sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defense, connectivity, and global governance. Complementing these developments, the India-European Free Trade Association Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) entered into force on October 1, further enhancing trade, investment, and employment opportunities in India.