Trade and investment promotion

On 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Gothenburg. During the visit, the leaders held bilateral meetings and participated in discussions with European business leaders on innovation, climate and trade. HRH Crown Princess Victoria, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard, and India’s Minister for External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar also participated in the programme.

On 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson received Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Gothenburg on the occasion of Sweden and India upgrading their bilateral relations to a strategic partnership. Mr Kristersson and Mr Modi also met with the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen.

Joint Statement on the India–Sweden Summit, ‘Establishment of a Strategic Partnership’ Gothenburg, 17 May 2026

On 17 May, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson will receive Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Gothenburg. During the visit, the leaders will hold bilateral meetings and participate in discussions with European business leaders on innovation and trade. Mr Kristersson and Mr Modi will also hold joint press statements, together with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen. HRH The Crown Princess will also participate in the programme.

Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa has presented the Government’s 2025 Music Export Prize to internationally acclaimed Swedish opera singer Christina Nilsson. The Government’s Special Prize was awarded to rock group The Hives, and the Government’s Honourable Mention went to production company MXM Music for the Taylor Swift Project.

The Government takes an extremely serious view of the continuing settlement policy and the increased settler violence in the West Bank, and is therefore proposing new measures in the form of an expanded differentiation policy. The Israeli Government’s actions in the West Bank violate international law.

On 23 April, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa will present the Government’s Music Export Prize for 2025. The nominees include internationally successful Swedish artists and songwriters.

Joint statement by the Prime Ministers of the Nordic countries and Canada, Oslo, 15 March 2026.

Sweden aims to take a leading role in artificial intelligence. The Government is now presenting a new AI strategy with the aim of providing more effective government agencies, clearer rules for businesses and better conditions for research. The objective is for Sweden to be among the world’s top 10 countries in the field of AI.

The Government has adopted a new national market surveillance strategy for 2026-2029. The strategy aims to make it easier for businesses to act correctly and to counter problems associated with eCommerce involving products from countries outside the EU. It also aims to increase the use of new technologies and AI and enhance expertise in these areas.

On Monday 19 January, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Minister for Foreign Affairs Maria Malmer Stenergard and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson received Qatar’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani for bilateral meetings in Stockholm.

On 18 December, the Government unveiled Made with Sweden, an initiative to increase Swedish exports, promote investment and strengthen international cooperation in a time of growing protectionism.

The UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil concluded after overrunning into 22 November. Negotiations were characterised by disagreements between various countries, and did not result in the push to implement countries’ domestic climate plans that Sweden and the EU would have wanted.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz have signed an enhanced and expanded Strategic Innovation Partnership between Sweden and Germany. The Joint Declaration of Intent comprises new areas including foreign policy, capital market issues, migration and international development cooperation.

Joint Declaration of Intent on a Strategic Innovation Partnership between Sweden and Germany. Signed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Germany’s Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz on 19 november 2025 in Berlin.

Strategic Partnership between Canada and Sweden. Signed by Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on 18 November 2025.

Their Majesties The King and Queen are paying a State Visit to Canada on 18–20 November 2025 at the invitation of Canada’s Governor General and Commander-in-Chief Mary Simon. The Swedish Government is represented by Minister for Energy, Business and Industry and Deputy Prime Minister Ebba Busch and Minister for Defence Pål Jonson. Around 30 Swedish companies are participating in the Team Sweden delegation that Business Sweden is arranging on behalf of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. For health reasons, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada Richard Wagner is replacing Governor General Mary Simon for the duration of the State Visit. The programme may be updated.

Canada and Sweden have entered into a Strategic Partnership, which was launched on 18 November, during the State Visit to Canada by Their Majesties The King and Queen. It builds on Canada and Sweden’s common interests and values, and will further deepen and broaden bilateral cooperation.

On 13 November, Minister for International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa is participating in the ReBuild Ukraine exhibition and conference in Warsaw to promote Swedish business investments and business in Ukraine.

Sweden’s key messages for global climate action are urgency based on science to increase the pace of work and opportunities in the form of improved competitiveness, new jobs and growth, as well as innovation and development. Sweden is also one of the world’s most generous international climate finance donors, which contributes to both emissions reduction and climate adaptation.