PM Modi Calls for Stronger India-Europe Industrial Partnership at European Round Table for Industry
PM pitches India as trusted manufacturing and innovation hub; highlights India-EU FTA, resilient supply chains and green growth opportunities
PM Narendra Modi with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in Gothenburg on May 18
Gothenburg: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday called for deeper strategic and industrial cooperation between India and Europe while addressing the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) in Gothenburg, Sweden.
The high-level interaction 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. The event was hosted by Volvo Group.
In his keynote address, Modi highlighted the growing strategic convergence between India and Europe amid increasing global economic and geopolitical uncertainty, stressing the importance of “trusted partnerships” and resilient economic collaboration.
The Prime Minister welcomed the successful conclusion of negotiations for the landmark India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, describing it as a transformative partnership that would significantly enhance bilateral cooperation across trade, technology, manufacturing, services, and supply chains.
He said the proposed agreement would open new growth opportunities for businesses on both sides and strengthen long-term economic integration between India and Europe.
Modi also highlighted the strategic significance of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), saying the connectivity initiative would create new value chains and improve trade connectivity between India and European markets.
Positioning India as one of the world’s most attractive investment destinations, the Prime Minister pointed to the country’s rapid economic growth, next-generation reforms, expanding digital public infrastructure, improving ease of doing business, and fast-growing manufacturing ecosystem.
He reiterated India’s economic vision of “Design for India, Make in India and Export from India” and invited European companies to expand their presence in the country.
The Prime Minister emphasized the need for India and Europe to jointly build resilient and diversified global supply chains, particularly in critical sectors affected by geopolitical disruptions and changing global trade dynamics.
He highlighted India’s massive investments in transport infrastructure, logistics, renewable energy, green hydrogen, urban transformation, and nuclear energy as key areas for future collaboration with European industry.
Modi invited European companies to partner with India in sectors including telecommunications, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electronics manufacturing, clean energy, mobility solutions, healthcare, and life sciences.
The Prime Minister also stressed the importance of talent mobility, education partnerships, and innovation-driven collaboration between India and Europe.
Highlighting India’s demographic advantage, he said the country’s young and skilled workforce would play a major role in driving future global economic growth.
Modi proposed the institutionalisation of an annual India-Europe CEOs Round Table and suggested the creation of a dedicated India Desk within the European Round Table for Industry to strengthen long-term engagement between business communities on both sides.
The interaction served as a key platform for discussions on industrial cooperation, technological collaboration, sustainable development, and strengthening economic resilience amid changing global economic conditions.
The Prime Minister’s remarks come at a time when India and the European Union are accelerating efforts to deepen strategic ties across trade, technology, clean energy, and supply chain diversification as part of a broader geopolitical realignment.
