OSLO, Norway, May 19 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo on Tuesday held wide-ranging talks focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation in trade, digitalisation, emerging technologies, and sustainability.
The two leaders also announced the joint hosting of the World Circular Economy Forum in September this year in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The last edition of the forum was held in Brazil in May 2025.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo during PM Modi’s ongoing multi-nation visit. He is currently in Norway on the fourth leg of his five-nation tour, which also included stops in the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, and Sweden, with Italy scheduled as the final destination.
According to a statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), both leaders emphasized strengthening collaboration between industry, research institutions, and academia following the elevation of India-Finland ties to a Strategic Partnership in Digitalisation and Sustainability in March.
The two sides reviewed ongoing cooperation in areas including trade and investment, artificial intelligence, 5G and 6G technologies, quantum computing, space, renewable energy, circular economy, innovation, education, mobility, and people-to-people exchanges.
The MEA noted that despite global challenges, bilateral trade in goods and services has continued to grow, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to doubling trade by 2030.
They also welcomed the increasing presence of technology companies in each other’s markets, along with the contribution of Indian professionals in Finland’s technology and innovation sectors.
Prime Minister Modi described the meeting as productive and aimed at bringing “new energy” to bilateral relations. In a post on X, he said discussions covered futuristic sectors including 6G, artificial intelligence, education, nuclear energy, climate change, and sustainable development.
Both leaders also stressed the importance of early progress on the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement and exchanged views on regional and global developments.
India and Finland share strong relations based on democratic values, with Finland considered an important partner for India within the European Union and the Nordic region.
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