The spirit of Stockholm

by AMIT ROY

CULTURAL FESTIVAL BOOSTS TRADE TIES BETWEEN SWEDEN AND INDIA

INDIANS in Sweden have just held a “Namaste Stockholm” cultural event, showcasing yoga, classical and Bolly­wood dancing, music and food, in an effort to boost trade and business be­tween the two countries.

Although Sweden has a population of only 10 million, compared with India’s 1.25 billion, it is hailed as “the most mod­ern country in the world” boasting cut­ting-edge technology that is badly need­ed by the fast-growing Indian economy.

Relations have been boosted by the visit of the Indian prime minister Naren­dra Modi to Stockholm on April 16-17 this year, which followed that of former presi­dent Pranab Mukherjee in June 2015. There was a return visit by the Swedish prime minister Stefan Löfven to India in February 2016.

“These visits are very important,” San­joo Malhotra, project manager of Na­maste Stockholm, told Eastern Eye.

During Modi’s trip, the prime ministers agreed a “Sweden-India Joint Action Plan”. This is meant to “encourage trade and fa­cilitate investment in both directions, such as Sweden’s investment in India through ‘Invest India’ and Indian investment in Sweden through ‘Business Sweden’.”

The scope for mutual collaboration is extensive and takes in everything from railways to energy, defence and space re­search as well as “women’s skills develop­ment and empowerment”.

Malhotra is also chief executive direc­tor of India Unlimited, the organisation striving to intensify economic links be­tween the land of his birth and his adopt­ed country. “Culture is a tool to create engagement,” he said.

Namaste Stockholm created curiosity about India and a greater willingness to do business with and even travel to the country, he added. He pointed out that Air India introduced direct flights be­tween the two countries in August 2017.

This year’s Namaste Stockholm, the fourth such event in successive years, featured the distinguished Indian dancer and choreographer Arunima Kumar.

India’s ambassador, Monika Kapil Mohta, once served in London as director of the Nehru Centre before being posted to Poland as diplomatic head of mission.

She said: “It gives me a great sense of pride to witness the fourth Namaste Stockholm – India Day in Stockholm – an opportunity to showcase various Cs of India: culture, cuisine, crafts and choice of destinations to visit.

“We greatly look forward to the further deepening and widening of the cultural in­terface among the people of our countries.”

Plans are already under way to hold a Sweden-India “business day” in Stock­holm on November 12 when corporate leaders from the two countries will meet to discuss practical steps to strengthen the bilateral economic relationship.

Malhotra drew attention to a business paper which set out the potential: “India is expected to be the third-largest econo­my by 2025. With high growth, India will need to find innovative technological so­lutions to help solve issues connected with creating sustainable environments.

“Can Swedish companies play a role here?” The paper emphasised that “Swe­den is called the world’s most modern country and Swedish companies are strong in innovation and in R&D, and have their competencies when it comes to technology relating to AI (artificial intelligence), im­proving air and water qualities, connec­tivity, transportation, sustainability, retail spaces and smart-living and smart cities”.

There is already a “Joint Declaration on Sweden-India Innovation Partnership for a Sustainable Future” which sets out the areas for collaboration.

These include: smart cities and transpor­tation including e-mobility; smart industry, digilitisation, start-ups and IPR (intellec­tual property rights) issues; new materials and advanced manufacturing; space and aeronautics; circular and bio-based econo­my including biomaterials; and health and life sciences including biomedical devices.

“Spreading knowledge, happiness and making contacts between people is the whole purpose of the Namaste Stockholm festival,” said Malhotra.