In the shifting, volatile geopolitical environment, India matters more than ever, and so does its approach towards strategic autonomy. The strategic partnerships of India with the Netherlands and Sweden, the Green Strategic Partnership between India and the Nordic states, and the India-Italy Strategic Partnership bear testimony to this.

On its part, India is seeking a partnership with Europe that would enable green transition, provide technology and funds, and create job opportunities for its skilled and semi-skilled population. Europe, with its declining population, require Indian youth, as Indian employees are among the most disciplined workforce in the world, as recognised by the Gulf states.

The Russian government has taken a cue from this.

And now its the turn of the European countries. Some of them now need to open the doors for skilled and semi-skilled Indians to sustain their growth model. Besides, the growing presence of Indian companies in countries such as the Netherlands is emerging as a contributing factor.

India-Sweden Strategic Partnership

The Joint Action Plan 2026-2030 for the Implementation of the India-Sweden Strategic Partnership will strive towards unlocking the full potential of bilateral trade and investment, and doubling the bilateral economic exchange within five years. 

This will be achieved through a slew of measures and initiatives, including the Bilateral Trade and Investment Summit in India to be held in 2027; advancing the “Make in India” and “Made with Sweden” initiatives; pursuing regular dialogue on Intellectual Property (IP) Rights by the Swedish Intellectual Property Office (PRV) and the Office of Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trademarks, Department of Promotion of Industries and Internal Trade; enhancing joint sustainable infrastructure development; and promoting connectivity and the re-establishment of direct and regular air links between Sweden and India, among others. 

A bilateral Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SME) and startup platform must also be developed.

Joint Innovation Partnership 2.0

India and Sweden will also launch an upgraded Joint Innovation Partnership 2.0 and establish a virtual India-Sweden Joint Science and Technology Centre (ISJSTC), with a strengthened focus on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), 6G, quantum computing, sustainable mining, sustainable transports, critical minerals, space and geospatial research, and
life sciences.

The Joint Innovation Partnership 2.0 will strengthen the existing cooperation on renewable energy,
battery and energy storage, energy transmission and smart grid technologies, smart cities, resilient water systems, and sustainable mining, among others.

Roadmap For India-Netherlands Ties

In the case of ties with the Netherlands, the roadmap for strategic partnership will seek to leverage annual meetings of the overarching Joint Trade and Investment Committee (JTIC),
increase bilateral trade, market access and investment, especially in sectors with high potential such as renewable energy, telecommunications, maritime, infrastructure and urban development, innovation, electronics, semicon, agriculture, pharmaceuticals and medical technology, and
organic chemicals textiles.

This will be enhanced by joint ventures, industrial partnerships and technological collaboration between companies.

India-Italy Special Strategic Partnership

Italy’s pivot towards India is getting consolidated with every state visit between the respective Prime Ministers. There is a shared objective of expanding bilateral trade in both directions,
with the aim of reaching €20 billion by 2029.

The goal is to increase bilateral investments in key sectors and encourage the respective industries to forge industrial and technology partnerships in order to build resilient supply
chains. There is a prospect of greater investments in a wide range of sectors — textiles and semiconductors to pharmaceuticals and digital technologies, with industries exhorted to leverage policy incentives and schemes.

It was also decided to encourage dialogue and cooperation between stock exchanges, investment funds, venture capital, banks, insurance companies, and financial institutions, besides
facilitating industrial partnerships.

MoU On Critical Minerals

During PM Modi's visit, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of critical minerals. The two countries will promote joint efforts in the recovery of critical minerals from unconventional sources, including electronic waste and
mine tailings, as an integral component of circular economy initiatives. 
European society at large needs to understand that the Global South has arrived. It is driving the growth story, and it will no longer remain a mute spectator.

(The writer is a commentator on geopolitics. Views expressed are personal.)