Ziraat Times News Desk
Gothenburg, May 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) in Gothenburg, highlighting the growing strategic convergence between India and Europe and calling for deeper economic and industrial cooperation in an increasingly uncertain global environment.
The interaction, hosted by the Volvo Group, was attended by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, senior European industry leaders and representatives from leading Indian and European companies.
In his keynote address, Modi welcomed the growing momentum in India-European Union relations, including the successful conclusion of negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement. He described the proposed agreement as a transformative economic partnership that would open new opportunities in trade, technology, manufacturing, services and resilient supply chains.
The Prime Minister also highlighted connectivity initiatives such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC), saying such projects would add new value to India-Europe business ties.
Modi said India today is among the world’s most attractive destinations for investment, innovation and manufacturing. He highlighted India’s rapid economic growth, next-generation economic reforms, expanding digital public infrastructure, growing manufacturing ecosystem and large-scale infrastructure transformation.
Reiterating India’s vision of “Design for India, Make in India and Export from India,” the Prime Minister invited European companies to deepen engagement with India as a trusted and reliable economic partner.
He stressed that India and Europe must work together to build resilient and diversified supply chains amid evolving global challenges. Modi also underlined India’s ambitious infrastructure and energy transformation plans, including major investments in transport, logistics, renewable energy, green hydrogen and nuclear power.
The Prime Minister invited European industries to collaborate with India in sectors including telecom and digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, electronics, deep-tech manufacturing, clean energy, urban mobility, healthcare and life sciences.
Highlighting the importance of talent mobility and education partnerships, Modi said India’s young and skilled workforce would play a key role in future global economic growth. He stressed the need to strengthen people-to-people ties and innovation partnerships between India and Europe.
The Prime Minister also proposed holding an annual India-Europe CEOs Roundtable and suggested creating an India Desk within the European Round Table for Industry to strengthen institutional engagement.
The meeting served as a platform for discussions on enhancing India-Europe economic cooperation and reaffirmed the shared commitment towards sustainable growth, technological collaboration and resilient global partnerships.
