PM Modi’s Six-Day Visit from May 15: UAE, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy on Agenda to Boost Trade

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a six-day trip to the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from May 15. The Ministry of External Affairs said the journey aims to sharpen India’s partnerships in Europe and West Asia, with trade, investment and security cooperation central to the agenda.

The government has linked the tour with the recently concluded India-EU free trade agreement. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the schedule is designed to deepen strategic engagement with key European capitals while also reinforcing ties with the Gulf region during a period of geopolitical uncertainty and conflict in West Asia.

PM Modi to Meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed

PM Modi’s first stop will be the United Arab Emirates, where the prime minister will meet President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The two leaders are expected to review the comprehensive strategic partnership and discuss the regional situation in West Asia, including the continuing conflict and its impact on energy and security.

"The two leaders will have the opportunity to exchange views on bilateral issues, in particular energy cooperation, as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Monday. The ministry added that the trip is aimed at strengthening trade and investment links between India and the UAE.

The UAE is currently India’s third-largest trading partner and ranks as the seventh-largest source of investment into India over the past 25 years. With more than 4.5 million Indians living and working in the UAE, the Ministry of External Affairs said the visit will also include discussions on the welfare and interests of the Indian community.

PM Modi Visit: Modi-Meloni Talks Expected to Advance India-Italy Strategic Action Plan 2025-2029

In the final stage of the tour, PM Modi will be in Italy from May 19 to 20 at the invitation of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. PM Modi will call on President Sergio Mattarella and hold talks with Prime Minister Meloni, following Modi’s earlier trip to Italy for the G7 Summit in June 2024.

The Ministry of External Affairs said the India-Italy relationship is guided by a joint strategic action plan 2025-2029. This detailed framework covers cooperation across many sectors. Bilateral trade between India and Italy reached $16.77 billion in 2025, and discussions in Rome are expected to focus on investment, defence and security, clean energy, innovation and science and technology.

PM Modi visit: Netherlands and key trade partnerships

After the UAE, PM Modi will travel to the Netherlands between May 15 and 17. This will be Modi’s second visit to the country, following a previous trip in 2017. The prime minister will meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima, and will also hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten in The Hague.

The Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade valued at $27.8 billion in 2024-25. It is also India’s fourth-largest investor, with cumulative foreign direct investment of $55.6 billion. The Ministry of External Affairs said Modi’s visit is expected to boost cooperation in defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors and a strategic partnership on water.

Officials said the Netherlands leg will build on recent high-level exchanges and aims to further widen what the ministry described as a multifaceted partnership. New initiatives are likely to be explored in technology-driven sectors, where Dutch experience in water management and clean energy complements India’s current development priorities and industrial goals.

PM Modi visit: Sweden, Norway and India-Nordic summit

From the Netherlands, PM Modi will head to Sweden for a two-day visit from May 17 to 18 at the invitation of Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson. Modi had earlier travelled to Sweden in 2018 for the first India-Nordic Summit, marking a renewed focus on cooperation with Nordic countries.

During the stay in Stockholm, PM Modi and Prime Minister Kristersson will hold bilateral talks covering the full range of ties, including trade, technology and strategic issues. Bilateral trade stood at $7.75 billion in 2025. Both sides are expected to discuss green transition, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, startups, resilient supply chains, defence, space, climate action and people-to-people exchanges.

"The two prime ministers will also address the European Round Table for Industry, a leading pan-European business leaders forum, along with Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission," the MEA said in a statement. The interaction is expected to highlight investment opportunities and industrial collaboration involving Indian and European companies.

In the fourth leg of the journey, PM Modi will be in Norway from May 18 to 19. This will be PM Modi’s first visit to Norway and the first visit by any Indian prime minister to the country in 43 years. Modi will call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store in Oslo.

The schedule in Norway also includes a joint address by Modi and Prime Minister Store at the India-Norway Business and Research Summit, the Ministry of External Affairs said. Discussions are expected to focus on trade, investments, research links and cooperation between Norwegian institutions and Indian partners in technology and sustainability-focused areas.

"The visit will provide an opportunity to review the progress made in India-Norway relations and explore avenues to further strengthen them, with a focus on trade and investment, capitalising on the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, as well as on clean and green tech and blue economy," it said.

"The visit will also be an opportunity to induce momentum in bilateral trade worth around $2.73 billion (2024), and investments by Norway's government Pension Fund (GPFG) of close to $28 billion in the Indian capital market," the MEA said.

The third India-Nordic Summit will be held in Oslo on May 19, with participation from PM Modi and the prime ministers of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. The Ministry of External Affairs said the meeting will build on earlier summits held in Stockholm in April 2018 and Copenhagen in May 2022.

The summit is expected to focus on technology and innovation, green transition and renewable energy, sustainability, blue economy, defence, space and the Arctic. Indian officials see the Nordic platform as a way to coordinate with like-minded partners on climate action, newer technologies and stable supply chains spanning Europe and the Indo-Pacific.

The overall schedule of the PM Modi visit spans five countries and several key engagements.

Country	Dates	Key engagements	Indicative bilateral trade
United Arab Emirates	Starting May 15	Meeting with President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan; Indian community discussions	UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner; seventh-largest cumulative investor
Netherlands	May 15–17	Meetings with King Willem-Alexander, Queen Maxima and Prime Minister Rob Jetten	$27.8 billion in 2024-25; fourth-largest investor with $55.6 billion FDI
Sweden	May 17–18	Bilateral talks with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson; European Round Table for Industry	$7.75 billion in 2025
Norway	May 18–19	Meetings with King Harald V, Queen Sonja, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store; India-Nordic Summit	About $2.73 billion in 2024
Italy	May 19–20	Meetings with President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni	$16.77 billion in 2025

The Ministry of External Affairs said the PM Modi visit is expected to advance India’s strategic and economic partnerships across Europe and West Asia. With a focus on trade, investment, energy cooperation and new technologies, the six-day tour is positioned as part of India’s wider engagement following the India-EU free trade agreement.