Open to engage with Modi as India's next PM: Sweden
BJP's prime ministerial candidate and Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi.
STOCHOLM: An influential Swedish politician and head of the Swedish India friendship group in the Swedish parliament has said that the Nordic country will engage with open arms with BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi as India votes for change.
Ulf Holm, who is the second deputy speaker of the Swedish parliament, told TOI in an exclusive interview that Swedish business houses have informed him of their eagerness to see Modi —known for his acumen for development to come to power.
Talking to TOI on the sidelines of the India Unlimited festival organized by the Indian embassy in Sweden, Holm from Sweden's Green Party said "India is looking for a political change, much like the situation in Sweden. Those following the Indian elections closely tell me that Congress looks tired as a party. They have been running India for a long time".
"The human rights record of any country is important for Sweden. Hopefully Modi has realized that the riots in Gujarat were wrong and a blot on his governance and he won't allow a repeat of it. Modi is known to be forward looking and he will realize that such riots aren't forward looking for the world's third largest economy," Holm said.
Sweden ranks 12th in the list of countries investing in India.
According to DIPP, cumulative FDI figures from Sweden to India till December 2012 stood at $ 2 billion.
Holm, however, was clear that Sweden was open to engage with Modi as India's next prime minister.
"Swedish companies are keen that Modi comes into power. They want improved economic prosperity between India and Sweden. Modi has done wonders for the economy in Gujarat as its chief minister and we expect him to do the same with international partnerships including Sweden," Holm added.
In recent years, Sweden has emerged as a major partner for India both commercially and diplomatically, thanks to the active engagement between the two countries under India's ambassador to Sweden and Latvia Banashri Bose Harrison.
Economic interests have emerged as the driver of the relationship with bilateral trade at $2817 million in 2011-12. Sweden's main exports to India are in the areas of pharmaceuticals, paper and pulp products, chemicals and telecom equipment.
Several Swedish companies like Ericsson, SKF, Volvo, AstraZeneca, DeLaval and ABB have expanded operations in India. About 40 Indian IT companies have opened offices in Sweden. The cumulative Indian investment in Sweden is estimated to be $ 600 million. Several Indian pharma and biotech companies too have opened shop in Sweden like Dr Reddys, Biocon and Kemwell. Around 20,000 PIOs and 8300 Indian citizens live in Sweden.
Several foreign countries recently lifted travel bans on Modi.
Britain had imposed a decade long boycott of the leader in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots.
But economic interests made James Bevan, UK's high commissioner in India meet Modi on October 22, 2012 and end the boycott.
Recently, the European Union (EU) too lifted its 10-year ban on Modi visiting any member-country, imposed after the 2002 riots.
Ulf Holm, who is the second deputy speaker of the Swedish parliament, told TOI in an exclusive interview that Swedish business houses have informed him of their eagerness to see Modi —known for his acumen for development to come to power.
Talking to TOI on the sidelines of the India Unlimited festival organized by the Indian embassy in Sweden, Holm from Sweden's Green Party said "India is looking for a political change, much like the situation in Sweden. Those following the Indian elections closely tell me that Congress looks tired as a party. They have been running India for a long time".
"The human rights record of any country is important for Sweden. Hopefully Modi has realized that the riots in Gujarat were wrong and a blot on his governance and he won't allow a repeat of it. Modi is known to be forward looking and he will realize that such riots aren't forward looking for the world's third largest economy," Holm said.
Sweden ranks 12th in the list of countries investing in India.
According to DIPP, cumulative FDI figures from Sweden to India till December 2012 stood at $ 2 billion.
Holm, however, was clear that Sweden was open to engage with Modi as India's next prime minister.
"Swedish companies are keen that Modi comes into power. They want improved economic prosperity between India and Sweden. Modi has done wonders for the economy in Gujarat as its chief minister and we expect him to do the same with international partnerships including Sweden," Holm added.
In recent years, Sweden has emerged as a major partner for India both commercially and diplomatically, thanks to the active engagement between the two countries under India's ambassador to Sweden and Latvia Banashri Bose Harrison.
Economic interests have emerged as the driver of the relationship with bilateral trade at $2817 million in 2011-12. Sweden's main exports to India are in the areas of pharmaceuticals, paper and pulp products, chemicals and telecom equipment.
Several Swedish companies like Ericsson, SKF, Volvo, AstraZeneca, DeLaval and ABB have expanded operations in India. About 40 Indian IT companies have opened offices in Sweden. The cumulative Indian investment in Sweden is estimated to be $ 600 million. Several Indian pharma and biotech companies too have opened shop in Sweden like Dr Reddys, Biocon and Kemwell. Around 20,000 PIOs and 8300 Indian citizens live in Sweden.
Several foreign countries recently lifted travel bans on Modi.
Britain had imposed a decade long boycott of the leader in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat riots.
But economic interests made James Bevan, UK's high commissioner in India meet Modi on October 22, 2012 and end the boycott.
Recently, the European Union (EU) too lifted its 10-year ban on Modi visiting any member-country, imposed after the 2002 riots.