India-Nordic relations are India’s diplomatic, economic and technological partnership with the five Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), pursued both bilaterally and through the India-Nordic Summit format. The first India-Nordic Summit was held in Stockholm in 2018 and the second in Copenhagen in 2022, and both brought the Indian Prime Minister together with the prime ministers of the Nordic states.
The relationship rests on shared democratic values and on cooperation in clean energy, maritime affairs, digital technology, innovation and trade. Denmark and India also have a Green Strategic Partnership, while Norway and Iceland link to India through the European Free Trade Association (EFTA). Last updated: 15 October 2026.
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Countries involved | Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden |
| First India-Nordic Summit | Stockholm, Sweden, 2018 |
| Second India-Nordic Summit | Copenhagen, Denmark, 2022 |
| Bilateral framework with Denmark | Green Strategic Partnership (2020) |
| EFTA members among the Nordics | Norway and Iceland |
| EU members among the Nordics | Denmark, Finland and Sweden |
| India-EFTA trade agreement | Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), signed in March 2024 |
| Main cooperation areas | Clean energy, maritime, digital, innovation, Arctic research and trade |
Key Takeaways
- India-Nordic relations cover India’s ties with Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, which are grouped together diplomatically as the Nordic countries.
- The first India-Nordic Summit took place in Stockholm in 2018, and the second took place in Copenhagen in 2022.
- India and Denmark established a Green Strategic Partnership in 2020, centred on renewable energy, water, shipping and sustainable development.
- Norway and Iceland are members of EFTA, and India signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with EFTA in March 2024.
- India became an observer in the Arctic Council in 2013 and operates the Himadri research station at Ny-Alesund in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard.
- The Nordic countries are not a single political bloc, so India’s relationships with each one differ in depth, focus and policy alignment.
What are India-Nordic relations?
India-Nordic relations are the set of diplomatic, trade, technology and cultural ties between India and the Nordic region of northern Europe. The Nordic region consists of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, which share broadly similar political systems, high living standards and strong traditions of innovation.
India deals with each country through a separate bilateral track, and these tracks have been supplemented by a regional summit since 2018. The Nordic states are small by population compared with India, but they are technologically advanced economies with global companies in telecommunications, energy, shipping, pharmaceuticals and engineering. For India, they are partners in the green transition, in research and in access to advanced technology. For the Nordic countries, India is a large and growing market and a fast-growing source of skilled talent.
How did India and the Nordic countries first connect?
India and the Nordic countries first connected through trade and missionary and colonial contact, and diplomatic relations were established after Indian independence in 1947. Denmark held trading colonies in India, at Tranquebar (Tharangambadi) in Tamil Nadu and Serampore in West Bengal, until the mid-nineteenth century.
Several later connections shaped the relationship:
- Cultural recognition: the Swedish Academy awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature to Rabindranath Tagore in 1913, the first Nobel for an Asian.
- Peace and development: Mother Teresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and Kailash Satyarthi in 2014, both presented in Oslo.
- Cold War diplomacy: India and several Nordic countries cooperated on disarmament and development policy.
- Commercial ties: Swedish and Danish firms entered the Indian market in the twentieth century in engineering, telecommunications and pharmaceuticals.
Over the following decades, ties deepened gradually, with the Nordic states often viewed in India as reliable, values-driven partners that avoided the geopolitical sensitivity of larger powers.
What is the India-Nordic Summit?
The India-Nordic Summit is a multilateral meeting at which the Indian Prime Minister and the prime ministers of the five Nordic countries discuss shared priorities. It is held irregularly rather than on a fixed annual schedule.
| Summit | Year and host | Main themes |
|---|---|---|
| First India-Nordic Summit | 2018, Stockholm, hosted by Sweden | Innovation, sustainability, security, trade and investment, and global cooperation |
| Second India-Nordic Summit | 2022, Copenhagen, hosted by Denmark | Green transition, innovation, climate, the Arctic, security and economic recovery |
At the first summit, leaders agreed to strengthen cooperation on innovation and the digital economy and to support a rules-based international order. At the second, discussions placed more weight on the green transition, renewable energy and the changing European security situation. The summit gives India a way to engage the five countries together, even though most concrete agreements are still reached bilaterally.
What is the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership?
The India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership is a framework agreed in 2020 that links the two countries’ cooperation on renewable energy, water, shipping, agriculture and sustainable urban development. It was announced in a virtual summit between the two Prime Ministers and was later supported by a multi-year action plan.
The partnership builds on a long history of Danish commercial presence in India. Danish companies are involved in wind energy, shipping and logistics, food processing, pharmaceuticals and water management. Denmark offers expertise in offshore wind, district heating, energy efficiency and circular economy practices, while India offers a large domestic market, a growing renewable energy programme and skilled engineers. Danish-Indian cooperation also includes research in areas such as clean technology and health sciences. The partnership is regarded as one of the most developed bilateral relationships between India and a Nordic country.
How do India and Sweden cooperate?
India and Sweden cooperate through a strategic partnership and an innovation-focused framework that links Swedish expertise in engineering, telecommunications and clean technology with India’s large market and talent base. Sweden hosted the first India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm in 2018.
Many Swedish multinationals operate in India, including firms in telecommunications equipment, automotive, furniture retail, fashion retail, industrial machinery and defence. Sweden and India have also worked on a joint innovation partnership that supports start-ups, research and industry-academia links. The two countries are among the democratic voices that support multilateral approaches to climate and development. Defence relations have a long history, and Swedish defence companies have marketed equipment to India at various times, although procurement choices depend on India’s own requirements and policy.
What is India’s relationship with Norway, Finland and Iceland?
India’s relationships with Norway, Finland and Iceland are cooperative but narrower in scale, each focused on the strengths of the partner country. Norway is linked to India through shipping, ocean economy and energy, Finland through telecommunications and education, and Iceland through geothermal energy and fisheries.
- Norway: cooperation covers the blue economy, maritime technology, hydropower, offshore energy and sovereign investment. A joint task force on the blue economy was agreed in 2020, and Norwegian institutions and funds invest in Indian markets.
- Finland: companies from Finland operate in India in telecommunications, lifts and elevators, marine engines and forestry technology, and the two countries cooperate in education and digital learning.
- Iceland: cooperation is focused on geothermal energy, sustainable fisheries and Arctic issues, and Iceland is a small partner with an outsized interest in clean energy sharing.
The scale of trade with these three countries is modest relative to India’s largest partners, but the technologies involved are often strategic.
What role does EFTA play in India-Nordic trade?
The European Free Trade Association (EFTA) plays a role in India-Nordic trade because Norway and Iceland, together with Switzerland and Liechtenstein, are its four members and negotiated a joint trade agreement with India. The agreement is called the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), and it was signed in March 2024.
EFTA is separate from the European Union, so Norway and Iceland negotiate their own trade deals. The TEPA covers trade in goods and services, investment, intellectual property and related areas, and the EFTA states have indicated large investment intentions in India over a period of years. Denmark, Finland and Sweden are different, since they are EU members and trade with India under the EU framework, which has been the subject of separate, long-running free trade negotiations. Together, these arrangements mean that India’s trade architecture with the Nordic region is split between the EFTA track and the EU track.
The practical significance of the EFTA agreement lies in tariff reductions, easier market access for services and a framework for investment. Indian exporters of textiles, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals and agricultural products look to benefit, while EFTA-based firms in precision engineering, pharmaceuticals, machinery and shipping see gains in the Indian market. As with any trade agreement, the benefits depend on implementation and on how quickly businesses adapt to the new rules.
Where do India and the Nordic countries cooperate beyond trade?
India and the Nordic countries cooperate beyond trade in clean energy, maritime affairs, digital technology, innovation, science and Arctic research. These areas play to Nordic strengths in technology and research and to India’s needs for sustainable growth.
Clean energy and climate
Nordic countries have long experience with wind, hydropower, geothermal and energy efficiency, and they share India’s interest in reducing emissions and expanding renewables.
Maritime and blue economy
Denmark and Norway are major shipping and offshore nations, which links them to India’s ports, shipbuilding and coastal development plans.
Digital and innovation
Cooperation includes start-ups, telecommunications, artificial intelligence, digital public services and research partnerships.
Arctic and science
India joined the Arctic Council as an observer in 2013 and runs the Himadri station at Ny-Alesund in Svalbard, which operates under Norwegian sovereignty. India released an Arctic policy in 2022. Nordic states are key partners for polar research.
People-to-people ties also contribute, through students, researchers, skilled professionals and an Indian diaspora in each Nordic country.
How do businesses and investors link India and the Nordic region?
Businesses and investors link India and the Nordic region through Nordic multinationals that manufacture and sell in India, Indian companies that operate in Nordic markets, and Nordic funds that invest in Indian assets. These commercial links often move faster than government-to-government agreements.
Nordic companies in India operate across telecommunications, power equipment, wind turbines, shipping and logistics, elevators, packaging, pharmaceuticals, furniture and consumer goods. Many have set up factories, research centres or large service offices in India, drawn by the domestic market and engineering talent. Indian firms, particularly in information technology, pharmaceuticals, engineering and automotive components, have offices in Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway, where they serve Nordic clients and use the region as a base for wider European business. Pension and sovereign wealth funds from the region have also invested in Indian infrastructure and listed companies. Business associations and chambers of commerce, along with each country’s embassy and trade promotion agency, help match firms and investors. Small and medium enterprises are an increasing focus, since the Nordic states have many specialised mid-sized firms that can partner with Indian counterparts.
Are there differences or challenges in India-Nordic relations?
Yes, there are some differences and challenges, although they have not prevented steady cooperation. The Nordic countries are not a bloc, so their positions on trade, security and human rights vary, and they sometimes differ from India’s approach on global issues.
Points that observers commonly note include:
- Trade volumes with the region are smaller than with India’s largest partners, and market access discussions are complex.
- Nordic governments and civil society sometimes comment on human rights and democratic freedoms, which India regards as internal matters.
- The Nordic states differ in their positions on the war in Ukraine, defence alignment and relations with Russia, while India follows a policy of strategic autonomy.
- Past episodes, such as disagreements over legal cases and child-welfare matters, occasionally strained ties but did not reverse the broader trend.
These differences are generally handled through dialogue, and both sides emphasise common interests in climate action, technology and a rules-based order.
Bottom Line
India-Nordic relations combine values, technology and commerce, and they have grown through bilateral partnerships, the India-Nordic Summit and the EFTA trade link. The partnership is strongest in clean energy, maritime affairs and innovation, and its future depends on turning political goodwill into larger trade and investment flows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which countries are in the Nordic region?
The Nordic region comprises Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. India engages with them both individually and through the India-Nordic Summit.
When was the first India-Nordic Summit held?
The first India-Nordic Summit was held in Stockholm, Sweden, in 2018. The second followed in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 2022.
What is the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership?
The India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership is a 2020 framework that deepens cooperation on renewable energy, water, shipping and sustainable development. It builds on strong Danish business interests in India and was supported by a multi-year action plan.
Does India have a trade agreement with Norway and Iceland?
Yes, India signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with EFTA in March 2024, and Norway and Iceland are EFTA members. The agreement also covers Switzerland and Liechtenstein.
What are the main areas of cooperation between India and the Nordic countries?
The main areas are clean energy, maritime and blue economy, digital technology, innovation, trade and investment, and Arctic research. People-to-people ties through students and professionals add to these links.
Why are the Nordic countries important to India?
The Nordic countries are important to India because they offer advanced technology, green energy expertise and investment, and they share democratic values. They are small in population but have globally competitive companies and research institutions.
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