Their Majesties, King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden are on a State Visit to India, along with an official and business delegation of 100 people. This is His Majesty’s third visit to India following the State visit in 1993 and later in 2005.
The Royal couple was given a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 2nd December. Later, the King of Sweden held discussions with Prime Minister Modi after which Prime Minister hosted him for a lunch. The two leaders inaugurated the first High-Level Innovation
Dialogue initiated under the aegis of Joint Innovation Partnership Agreement signed during PM Modi’s visit to Sweden in April 2018. The Innovation Dialogue saw the participation of the researchers and business community supported by political leadership deliberated
on ideas of future cooperation to find affordable, scalable technologies to tackle challenges of sustainable growth and minimizing the impact of climate change.
Later in the evening on 2nd December, His Majesty met Hon’ble Rastrapatiji after which three cooperation agreements in the fields of polar research, S&T and shipping were signed. During his discussion with Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji, His Majesty interalia commended
the contribution of the Indian community in Sweden. There is a strong and well-appreciated Indian community in Sweden comprising of professionals, researchers, businesses and students. The highest numbers of work permits in Sweden, barring EU, are issued to
Indian high-skilled professionals.
Prior to the banquet hosted by Hon’ble Rashtrapatiji in honour of Their Majesties, they also met Nav Agarwal and Vihaan Agarwal, two brothers of 12 and 15 years, who won the Childrens’ Climate Prize, CLEAN AIR, instituted by the Swedish business in renewable
energy. The organization created by the young boys called ‘One Step Greener’ educates on recycling of waste instead of burning.
Foreign Minister of Sweden also called on External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar to discuss matters of mutual interest.
His Majesty presided over a round table meeting where he and Shri Piyush Goyal, Minister of Commerce and Industry & Railways interacted with the CEOs of both sides to explore new opportunities for economic collaboration. His Majesty also marked his presence
at the larger business Summit, along with Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister of Finance.
Her Majesty Queen visited All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Their Majesties are also visiting Maharashtra and Uttarakhand. In keeping with His Majesty’s interest to explore opportunities for Swedish companies in Namami Gange programme, he is visiting
the Serai Sewage Treatment Plant in Haridwar for water treatment technologies. Swedish companies are working on a pilot project in Mohali, where the stubble from the farms is being converted to bio-coal.
New Delhi
December 03, 2019