Gothengburg, May 18: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday urged European industry leaders to deepen engagement with India, highlighting the country as a trusted investment and manufacturing destination while calling India-Europe ties a partnership rooted in shared values and long-term strategic interests.
Addressing the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) in Gothenburg, Sweden, PM Modi said India-Europe relations extend beyond economic metrics and are anchored in democracy, diversity, trust and transparency.
The interaction, hosted by Volvo Group, was attended by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, senior European industry leaders and representatives from major Indian and European companies.
According to the Press Information Bureau (PIB), Modi underscored the growing strategic convergence between India and Europe amid an increasingly uncertain global environment and stressed the need for trusted and resilient partnerships.
The Prime Minister proposed institutionalising India-Europe business engagement through an annual India-Europe CEO Roundtable and suggested creating an India Desk at the ERT to facilitate stronger industry collaboration and project monitoring.
Highlighting India’s economic transformation, Modi said the country offers a compelling environment for investment backed by rapid growth, policy reforms, digital public infrastructure, ease of doing business and expanding manufacturing capabilities.
He invited European companies to participate in India’s development journey under the vision of “Design for India, Make in India and Export from India”.
Modi identified five priority sectors for deeper collaboration, including telecom and digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing, green energy and sustainability, infrastructure and mobility, and healthcare and life sciences.
He invited European companies to invest in India’s clean energy transition and infrastructure expansion, including transport, logistics, renewable energy, green hydrogen and nuclear power.
Calling technology collaboration a strategic priority, the Prime Minister said India could become a key partner in 5G and 6G technologies, AI-enabled networks, secure connectivity and digital inclusion.
He highlighted India’s position as the world’s third-largest startup ecosystem and pointed to opportunities in AI, fintech, space, drones, biotech, climate technology and mobility.
Modi also stressed the importance of resilient and diversified supply chains and highlighted the potential of connectivity initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) in strengthening India-Europe business partnerships.
Referring to the India-EU Free Trade Agreement, Modi described the proposed pact as a transformative economic partnership capable of expanding opportunities across trade, manufacturing, technology, services and supply chains. He said both sides are working toward concluding the agreement at the earliest.
The Prime Minister also underlined the importance of talent mobility, skill development and innovation partnerships, positioning India’s young and skilled workforce as a key driver of future global economic growth.
