India-Nordic Summit: Modi meets Iceland, Finland, Denmark on clean energy and trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday met the leaders of Iceland, Finland and Denmark before the 3rd India-Nordic Summit. The talks focused on tightening ties in clean energy, trade, sustainability and digitalisation. Modi discussed the wider direction of relations with Iceland Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir, Finland Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and Denmark Acting Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.

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Oslo hosted the 3rd India-Nordic Summit with leaders from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. Officials said the meeting aimed to add more strategic depth to India’s Nordic outreach. Key areas included technology, innovation, green transition, renewable energy, sustainability, blue economy, defence, space and the Arctic.

India-Nordic Summit talks on Iceland ties

This was the first meeting between Modi and Frostadottir since Frostadottir took office, the MEA said. After the talks, Modi wrote, "Had a wonderful meeting with Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir of Iceland. India deeply values the friendship with Iceland.\" Modi said they spoke about clean energy and fisheries.

Modi also said the discussion covered sustainability, geothermal energy and carbon capture and storage. In the same post, Modi said, \"Icelands prowess in sectors relating to the Blue Economy is admirable. We are hopeful that the historic India-EFTA TEPA will give an impetus to trade and investment linkages as well.\" The MEA said Arctic cooperation also featured.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the two sides discussed renewable energy, innovation and digital technologies. Jaiswal also listed the creative economy and people-to-people exchanges. Jaiswal added that the leaders shared views on regional and global issues of mutual concern. Modi invited Frostadottir to visit India at a suitable time.

India-Nordic Summit focus on Finland cooperation

In talks with Orpo, Modi spoke about growing trade and investment links, Jaiswal said. The agenda included digitalisation, artificial intelligence, 5G and 6G, and quantum technologies. Renewable energy and the circular economy were also discussed. Jaiswal said innovation, education, mobility and people-to-people ties came up too.

Jaiswal said both leaders stressed the need for early entry into force of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement. They also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual concern, Jaiswal said. Modi later posted, \"This year has witnessed extensive engagements as far as India and Finland are concerned. PM Orpo himself had come to India for the AI Impact Summit. Our meeting today is aimed at giving new energy to bilateral relations.\"

The MEA said India and Finland also announced a joint plan for September 2026. The two countries will co-host the World Circular Economic Forum in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. The forum will be held under a joint arrangement between the two sides. The announcement was made during the leaders’ meeting.

India-Nordic Summit agenda for Denmark partnership

Modi also met Frederiksen and later wrote, \"Modi also held a fruitful meeting with Acting Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen. The India-Denmark friendship has been making remarkable progress over the recent years.\" The leaders discussed renewable energy, climate action and water management. Talks also covered green shipping, digitalisation and food processing.

Modi added, \"The coming years can see similar synergy in FinTech, industries, defence, innovation and more. Invited Danish pension funds to expand their investments in India. We are very confident that the India-EU Free Trade Agreement will have a major impact on both our economies.\" Jaiswal said both sides backed ties under the Green Strategic Partnership.

Jaiswal said the leaders noted Danish investments and technologies could scale up in India. The leaders decided to deepen work in new and emerging technologies, communications and start-ups. Academic exchanges were also part of the plan. The talks also covered cooperation in defence and AI, Jaiswal said.

On water cooperation, the MEA pointed to a joint project in Varanasi. India and Denmark are working to set up the Smart Laboratory on Clean Rivers SLCR. The MEA said it is a tripartite initiative by the Government of India, Indian Institute of Technology – Banaras Hindu University and Government of Denmark.

India-Nordic Summit background and Nordic economies

The Nordic region includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. The five countries have a combined GDP of more than USD 1.9 trillion. They are known for strong records in renewable energy and sustainable ocean governance. Officials said the summit built on meetings held in Stockholm in 2018 and Copenhagen in 2022.

Modi reached Norway from Sweden on Monday during a five-nation tour. The visit covered the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from May 15-20. From Norway, Modi is travelling to Italy for the final leg. The meetings with Nordic leaders took place during this itinerary.

India’s embassy website in Reykjavik said about 600 Indian nationals live in Iceland. It also noted business links with Icelandic firms including Ossur, Verkís, Alvotech and Marel, which have a presence in India. Trade ties improved after India signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement TEPA with EFTA in New Delhi in March 2024.

Iceland is one of four EFTA members, along with Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Norway. The embassy website in Helsinki said over 100 Finnish companies operate in India. It listed Nokia, Kone Elevators, Metso Outotec, Wartsila, UPM, Lindstrom, Fortum, Ahlstrom and Elcoteq as firms with manufacturing facilities in India.

Finland hosts around 33,445 persons of Indian origin, the embassy website said. This includes about 15,115 Non-Resident Indians and 18,330 Overseas Citizens of India. The same source said about 2,400 Indian students study in Finnish universities. These links formed part of the wider people-to-people base discussed in talks.

The Indian Embassy in Copenhagen said around 200 Danish companies have invested in India. It listed shipping, renewable energy, agriculture and smart urban development as key sectors. It also said several major Danish companies built new manufacturing factories under the Make in India scheme. AP Moller-Maersk Group handles about 19 per cent of India’s container trade.

The Indian community in Denmark is estimated at around 22,000, the embassy said. It includes IT professionals, doctors, engineers, finance professionals, academics and students. The three bilateral meetings highlighted trade, technology and climate-linked areas. Officials said the summit and side talks aimed to widen practical cooperation with Nordic partners.

With inputs from PTI