During the strategic visit of Sara Modig, State Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister of Sweden, Ebba Busch, Ministry for Climate and Enterprise, Sweden, and India, the two countries strengthened their bilateral cooperation in maritime innovation, sustainable industry, and renewable energy.

In addition to meetings with Swedish maritime firms like APOCCA, Candela, Echandia, Berg Propulsion, and Trelleborg, the official visit to Mumbai featured a roundtable discussion with Shantanu Thakur, Minister of State, Ministry of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Government of India. Disruptive shipping technology, port modernisation, and joint venture options for sustainable maritime infrastructure were the main topics of discussion.

The team gained important insights into port operations on a site tour of Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), India’s top container port, which is situated in Navi Mumbai. This was a major highlight of the visit. In order to learn about the current issues and new prospects facing the industry, the State Secretary also had meetings with top Swedish steel businesses.

The arrival of Sara Modig ushers in a new era in the Sweden-India connection, which is based on respect for one another, cooperation in technology, and a common dedication to carbon neutrality. The discussions during this visit, which range from industry-leading shipping solutions to inclusive growth in maritime industries, demonstrate our shared goal of promoting climate-smart development and building resilient, future-ready ecosystems. The Swedish Consul General in Mumbai, Sven Östberg, stated, “We look forward to transforming these engagements into long-term collaborations that benefit both nations and address contemporary global challenges.”

In order to explore partnerships in steel production and clean energy transitions, Modig will also be travelling to New Delhi to meet with senior officials from the Ministry of Steel and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy. In addition, she will address circular fashion and responsible sourcing with Swedish companies, including H&M, IKEA, and Kappahl, in collaboration with the Fashion Design Council of India.

India’s size, market penetration, and implementation, along with Sweden’s state-of-the-art technologies, offer enormous potential for establishing new standards in global sustainability and providing significant solutions for the world.