The two countries agreed to deepen bilateral cooperation in defence, set up a common task force on cyber security and form a partnership on innovation at the summit for Nordic leaders.
India and Sweden agreed to work on a deal to allow increased sharing of classified information, potentially opening up for Saab AB to secure an order for its Gripen fighter jets.
An accord will be needed for cooperation on defense materials, Swedish Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said at a press conference in Stockholm with his Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi, who was in town for a summit with Nordic leaders.
“This agreement would be an important step forward as we are deepening our bilateral cooperation in the defense domain,” Lofven said. The countries also agreed to set up a common task force on cyber security and form a partnership on innovation.
The visit comes as Swedish weapon manufacturer Saab is vying for a contract in India to build 110 locally-manufactured aircraft.
Swedish Enterprise Minister Mikael Damberg said agreeing to share secrets is common when these types of deals move forward. “When you enter into the final phase you need to learn more about company secrets and deeper information,” he said in an interview.
Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said to reporters after the meetings that he was able to restart joint commission with India and also signed four bilateral agreements, including three in agriculture.
Modi also met with Swedish business leaders on Tuesday, who are eager to gain a bigger share of one of the world’s biggest and emerging markets.
Hakan Buskhe, Saab’s chief executive officer, was one of the executives in attendance. While there’s no time to drive deal making in these settings, a top-level meeting of this kind indicates a willingness to move forward together, he said in an interview.
Saab is targeting the Indian market for a broad spectrum of business, including Gripen, he said. “What’s spectacular are the possibilities out there,” he said.— Bloomberg
While on 9 March , 2018 , US President Trump has accepted offer to meet Kim Jong Un to find a solution to key issues which could keep war away , Sweden offered few days earlier to that date to assist Trump in the talks as Sweden has diplomatic relations with North Korea for several years past. This is obviously an opportunity also for Sweden to come closer to the US for probable partnership in economy or any other relationship which could be strategic as well. It may be apt to bring in here the news report which said that Sweden has so far no formal partnership dealings with the US. So the development could be perceived as an opportunity for Sweden. Later news reports also said that North Korea Foreign Minister was in Sweden on 15 March 2018 amid planning for Trump-Kim meeting . Some days later on 16 April 2018 , India’s PM Narendar Modi is visiting Sweden probably for exploring partnership or trade. In the context of these developments in relation to Sweden , it may be appropriate to know this Vedic astrology writer’s related prediction for Sweden made last year in October , 2017 through brief prediction titled as : “ 2018 – an opportune year for Sweden when economy could be better fed by arts , films , entertainment and PARTNERSHIP”. In substance , the year 2018 , more so March to mid-July , was predicted to be providing opportunity to Sweden of partnership in trade or commerce and economy which may have prospect of bringing , sooner or later, chances of boosting up trade and economy. The prediction was emailed by this writer to a large number of newspapers of Sweden and elsewhere last year in October , 2017.