India will work with Nordic-Baltic countries for greener, smarter, digital & innovation-led future: S Jaishankar

Even as India has increased engagement with Nordic and Baltic countries of North European, New Delhi sees the partnership with them for a green and digital future.

Speaking at the India-Nordic-Baltic CII Conclave, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar said, "lessons of our pandemic response to serve the cause of global welfare" and "our growth must consequently be greener, be smarter and be more digital" and given the "meshing of capabilities, outlook and ambition....the India-Nordic-Baltic partnership can make a real difference".

Nordic countries are a group of 5 countries in Northern Europe--Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland, while Baltic countries are 3 countries--Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania who share a coastline with Baltic Sea.

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Highlighting how "India and the Nordic-Baltic nations have much in common", EAM said, "our shared values have led to a similar outlook towards global challenges and opportunities".

India has increased engagement with these countries, and 2018 saw first India Nordic summit in Sweden during which Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and all 5 Nordic leaders were present. Denmark will see the 2nd India Nordic summit and this was one of the key outcomes of the India-Denmark virtual summit that took place earlier this year.

During his address to Nordic and Baltic counterparts, EAM pointed out that India is "keen to promote more resilient global supply chains" and elaborated on India's Atmanirbhar Bharat--self-reliant India policy that "aims to promote entrepreneurship, employment, innovation and skill" and "it would strike a balance between what we build at home, what the world has to offer and what we can contribute."

Present during the virtual meet were--Denmark's foreign minister Jeppe Kofod, Finland's FM Ville Skinnari, Iceland's Industry Minister Kolbrún R. Gylfadóttir, Latvia's FM Edgars Rinkevics & Estonia's FM Urmas Reinsalu. On the Indian side were-- Secretary West, Vikas Swarup, Secretary ER Rahul Chhabra and Joint Secretary Central Europe Neeta Bhushan.