Narendra Modi addressed the European Round Table for Industry (ERT) in Gothenburg on May 17, 2026, highlighting the growing strategic alignment between India and Europe and calling for deeper economic, technological, and industrial cooperation.
The interaction, hosted by Volvo Group, was attended by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, senior European industry leaders, and representatives from leading Indian and European companies.
In his keynote address, Prime Minister Modi welcomed the progress in India-European Union relations, including the successful conclusion of negotiations for the India-EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA). He described the agreement as a transformative economic partnership expected to unlock new opportunities across trade, technology, manufacturing, services, and resilient supply chains.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as a major connectivity initiative that would add significant value to India-Europe trade cooperation.
Emphasising India’s emergence as one of the world’s most attractive destinations for investment and manufacturing, Modi pointed to the country’s rapid economic growth, next-generation reforms, expanding digital public infrastructure, and fast-transforming infrastructure ecosystem.
Reiterating India’s vision to “Design in India, Make in India, and Export from India,” he invited European companies to strengthen engagement with India as a trusted and reliable economic partner.
The Prime Minister stressed the need for India and Europe to jointly build resilient and diversified supply chains. He underlined India’s large-scale investments in transportation, logistics, renewable energy, green hydrogen, and nuclear energy, while inviting collaboration in sectors such as:
- AI and semiconductors
- Electronics and deep-tech manufacturing
- Telecommunications and digital infrastructure
- Clean energy and green transition
- Urban mobility and infrastructure
- Healthcare and life sciences
Modi also highlighted the importance of talent mobility, education, and skills partnerships, describing India’s young and skilled workforce as a major driver of future global economic growth.
As part of institutional cooperation, he proposed holding the India-Europe CEO Roundtable annually and suggested the creation of an “India Desk” within the ERT framework to further strengthen industry engagement between the two regions.
