Gothenburg [Sweden], May 18 (ANI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (local time) said that being conferred with Sweden's highest honour, the 'Order of the Polar Star', was not merely a personal recognition but an honour for '140 crore people of India' and for all those who have contributed to strengthening India-Sweden relations.
Addressing the CEO Round Table during the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) meeting in Gothenburg, Modi said, 'Some time ago, I was conferred with Sweden's highest honour- the Order of the Polar Star. This is not merely an honour for me. It is an honour for the 140 crore people of India. It is also an honour for all our friends in Sweden who have enriched India-Sweden relations.'
Highlighting the growing partnership between India and Sweden, the Prime Minister said the two countries have decided to elevate bilateral ties to the level of a Strategic Partnership, with a focus on cooperation in innovation, sustainability and industry.
'The relationship between India and Sweden rests upon a strong foundation of democratic values, the rule of law, and human-centric development. Both our nations view innovation as a vehicle for development, regard sustainability as a shared responsibility, and consider democracy to be our greatest strength,' he said.
He added that discussions during the meeting focused on building upon these shared values and expanding engagement across sectors.
'During today's meeting, we discussed how to build upon these shared commonalities to move forward. In light of our growing cooperation across every sector, we have decided to elevate our relationship to the level of a Strategic Partnership,' he said.
The remarks were made during a high-level session of the European Round Table for Industry (ERT), attended by senior executives of major European corporations. The event was co-hosted by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The session saw participation from companies across telecom, technology, energy, infrastructure, healthcare and manufacturing sectors, including Vodafone, Ericsson, Nokia, Orange, ASML, SAP, Capgemini, Shell, Volvo Group, Maersk, Airbus, AstraZeneca, Roche, Nestle and Unilever.
During the session, Modi outlined a five-sector framework for deeper India-Europe industrial collaboration and invited companies to increase investments in India.
He highlighted India's reform trajectory and the recently concluded India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, describing it as the 'Mother of all Deals', and emphasised India's advantages for global investors.
The five priority sectors identified include telecom and digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and semiconductors, green transition and clean energy, infrastructure and mobility, and healthcare and life sciences.
The Prime Minister also proposed institutional mechanisms to strengthen India-Europe business ties, including an annual India-Europe CEO Roundtable, sector-specific working groups, and an India-focused support mechanism for European firms.
He reiterated India's commitment to supporting major investment projects and ensuring timely implementation through government-backed reviews.
The meeting took place amid broader developments in India-European Union relations, including the conclusion of the Free Trade Agreement, a new Security and Defence Partnership, a Mobility Agreement and ongoing cooperation under the India-EU Trade and Technology Council.
The European Round Table for Industry is a forum of chief executives and chairpersons of major European multinational companies and is considered one of the region’s most influential business bodies. (ANI)