Sweden’s outgoing Ambassador to India, Jan Thesleff, has described India as having “taken its right place on the world stage” as he concluded his four-year tenure in New Delhi.

He reflected on what he termed “four amazing years” during which political engagement, trade, innovation and strategic cooperation between the two countries reached unprecedented levels.

The envoy emphasised that the most significant achievement during his posting was the broadening and deepening of cooperation across multiple sectors. He noted that India and Sweden now enjoy a much more vivid and active political dialogue, supported by numerous high-level visits, including the landmark visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Sweden.

He highlighted the conclusion of negotiations for the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement and the elevation of India-Sweden ties to a Strategic Partnership, backed by a roadmap extending to 2030. He explained that the action plan from 2026 to 2030 sets clear objectives for both nations to achieve together.

Reflecting on India’s transformation, Thesleff said the country has emerged as a leading global player despite an increasingly volatile international environment. He pointed to India’s G20 Presidency, initiatives for the Global South, and its growing role in artificial intelligence as evidence of its rising stature.

He described the India-EU FTA as much more than a trade agreement, stressing that it would strengthen investor confidence and unlock opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises on both sides. He explained that lowering regulatory and tariff barriers would enable greater participation by innovative businesses from both India and Europe, leading to transformative outcomes.

On bilateral economic ties, the Ambassador expressed confidence that India and Sweden would not only achieve but exceed their target of doubling trade by 2030. He noted that bilateral trade currently stands at around $7-8 billion and is expected to reach $14-15 billion by 2030. He added that the doubling target was modest and predicted far greater expansion in the coming years, including in investments, student exchanges, tourism and educational cooperation.

The envoy also underscored the importance of India-Sweden cooperation in the space sector, describing it as one of the oldest areas of collaboration between the two countries, dating back to the 1980s.

He highlighted Sweden’s participation in India’s upcoming Venus mission and noted that Swedish high-tech companies had already contributed to the Chandrayaan missions. He stressed that space cooperation extends beyond exploration, offering practical benefits for sustainable development on Earth.

He explained that technologies developed for space can also be applied to terrestrial challenges, making space collaboration a driver of innovation and sustainability. He expressed pride in Sweden’s role in supporting India’s space ambitions and reaffirmed that cooperation in this field would continue to grow.

The Ambassador concluded by noting that India’s rise on the global stage has been remarkable and that the Strategic Partnership between India and Sweden has laid a strong foundation for future cooperation across political, economic, technological and scientific domains.

ANI