The India-Nordic Summit is a high-level diplomatic meeting, a type of international institution or concept, that brings together the Prime Minister of India and the Prime Ministers of the five Nordic countries: Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden. The summit was created to strengthen cooperation and dialogue between India and the Nordic region, which is known for its high living standards, innovation, and sustainable solutions.
The first summit was held on April 17, 2018, in Stockholm, Sweden, co-hosted by India and Sweden. The idea was to establish a new regional partnership, as India is only the second country after the United States to hold a joint summit with all five Nordic nations. The initial focus was on global security, economic growth, innovation, and climate change, with an emphasis on innovation and digital transformation.
The mechanism involves a joint summit where the six heads of government discuss common issues, often followed by separate bilateral meetings between the Indian Prime Minister and each Nordic counterpart. Key areas of cooperation include clean and green technologies, renewable energy, the blue economy, maritime solutions, trade and investment, and the evolving global security scenario, including the Indo-Pacific. For example, the first summit re-energized the Nordic Sustainable Cities Project to support India's Smart Cities Program.
The summit connects to broader concepts like the LeadIT (Leadership Group on Industry Transition), a joint India-Sweden global initiative launched in September 2019 to guide heavy greenhouse gas-emitting industries toward a low-carbon economy. It also relates to the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, as Norway and Iceland are EFTA members.
The summit has continued to evolve, with the second edition held in Copenhagen, Denmark, on May 4, 2022, focusing on post-pandemic economic recovery and the Russia-Ukraine conflict. The third summit was scheduled for May 2026 in Norway, with a focus on energy security, green growth, and the Arctic, demonstrating a consistent focus on innovation and sustainability.