PM Modi departs for Oslo, Norway, after concluding his visit to Sweden. (Photo:PTI)
Gothenburg (Sweden), May 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on Monday, departed for Norway after concluding a two-day visit to Sweden, during which the two countries expanded cooperation in trade, technology, defence and innovation.
During his stay in Sweden, Modi held wide-ranging talks with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. The discussions focused on strengthening bilateral engagement across sectors including trade, artificial intelligence, clean energy and advanced technology.
A key outcome of the visit was the decision by India and Sweden to elevate bilateral ties to a "strategic partnership". In a social media post before leaving Sweden, Modi said the visit had produced "important outcomes" that would inject "new momentum to India-Sweden relations".
He highlighted the launch of the Joint Innovation Partnership 2.0 and the India-Sweden Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor, besides the two sides setting an ambitious target of doubling bilateral trade over the next five years.
On Sunday, Modi was conferred with the "Royal Order of the Polar Star, Degree Commander Grand Cross" in recognition of his contribution to strengthening India-Sweden ties and his leadership.
PM Modi after being conferred with Royal Order of Polar Star, in Gothenburg, Sweden. (Photo:PTI)
Calling the honour a tribute to the people of India, Modi said the award also recognised the efforts of those who had helped deepen relations between the two countries over the years.
The visit also featured a symbolic cultural exchange, centred on Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. Modi and Kristersson exchanged special gifts commemorating Tagore and the longstanding intellectual and civilisational links between India and Sweden in the presence of Swedish Crown Princess Victoria.
Tagore, the first non-European Nobel laureate, could not travel to Sweden in 1913 to receive the Nobel Prize. He later visited Sweden in 1921, where he was received by King Gustav V. This year also marks the centenary of Tagore's historic 1926 visit to Sweden.
Modi, who arrived in Sweden on Sunday and was received by Kristersson at Gothenburg Airport, also addressed the European Round Table for Industry.
During the interaction, he said India's "reform express" was moving at full speed and invited Swedish firms to expand investments in sectors such as manufacturing, green hydrogen and clean energy.
Trade between India and Sweden reached USD 7.75 billion in 2025.
The Sweden visit formed part of Modi's multi-nation tour covering the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy, aimed at enhancing India's strategic and economic partnerships across Europe.
The next leg of the visit will take Modi to Norway, where he is scheduled to attend the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo on Tuesday.
The summit will bring together leaders from India, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden to discuss cooperation in areas including green transition, trade, technology and innovation.
Modi's Norway visit will mark the first by an Indian Prime Minister to the Nordic country in 43 years and his maiden trip to the country.
During the two-day visit, Modi will call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja and hold bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
He is also scheduled to address the India-Norway Business and Research Summit alongside the Norwegian premier.
According to India's Ministry of External Affairs, the visit is expected to further boost bilateral trade and economic engagement between the two countries. India-Norway trade stood at around USD 2.73 billion in 2024.
PTI