Summit identifies several synergies related to India’s rich pool of talent and growing innovation environments
India and the Nordic countries agreed on the benefits of partnering on transforming the shipping industry towards a low carbon future through exchange of good practices and technology transfers.
Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi, visiting Copenhagen, had discussed and agreed on this and many other issues with Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre, the Prime Minister of Sweden Magdalena Andersson, the Prime Minister of Iceland Katrín Jakobsdóttir, the Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin, and the Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen at a Summit hosted by the Danish Prime Minister.
The leaders discussed the potential of stimulating business cooperation and investments in sustainable ocean industries in India and the Nordic countries, including in the maritime, marine, and offshore wind sectors, a Joint Statement said on 4 May 2022.
India and the Nordic countries were committed to follow up on the historic decision at UNEA 5.2 for negotiating an international legally binding instrument to end plastic pollution with an ambition to completing the work by 2024.
The Summit welcomed the Indian Government’s commitment to innovation and digital initiatives. The Nordic approach to innovation systems, characterized by an extensive collaboration between public sector, private sector, and academia was discussed.
Several synergies related to India’s rich pool of talent as well as growing innovation environments were identified. The importance of a rules based multilateral trading system, open and inclusive trade as drivers for innovation was underlined. India and the Nordic countries emphasized the importance of green technologies and industry transition with Leadership Group for Industry Transition (LeadIT) as a notable example.
Transport systems, including aviation knowledge exchange, maritime solutions and port-modernisation were important for enhancing trade between the Nordic countries and India. There was a shared interest in stimulating investment in innovative and sustainable solutions as well as identifying new opportunities in sectors such as food processing and agriculture, health projects and life-sciences.
On digitalisation, the Prime Ministers noted that technology has never been more prevalent in the lives of people around the world. The Summit noted that technology can contribute to better and more meaningful lives and assist in solving shared global challenges.
The Nordic countries want to continue to engage and work for a more inclusive, sustainable and human-centered technological development. The leaders noted that Digital India is an example of government services made more easily available to citizens electronically.
Nordic know-how in harmony with initiatives such as Made in India supports digitalisation efforts and ensures that the technological future belongs to all citizens, everywhere.
The Prime Ministers see opportunities for increased co-operation in the Arctic on polar research, climate and environmental issues.
The Prime Ministers agreed that a strong partnership between India and Nordic countries can help promote innovation, economic growth, climate friendly solutions and mutually beneficial trade and investments.
The Prime Ministers agreed to work together to fight and address climate change and to protect the natural environment in accordance with the Paris Agreement, the forthcoming Global Biodiversity Framework and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The Summit noted that the acceleration of the global green transition to combat climate change is one of the greatest and most imminent global challenges.
At the same time, successful transition to sustainable economy offers huge opportunities including new jobs. The need for setting ambitious goals for reducing emissions and concrete implementation plans was underlined, which will facilitate business actors´ contribution to accelerating the transition.
The Prime Ministers welcomed the international agreement at COP26 on the need for accelerated climate action for holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 degree above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 degree above pre-industrial level. India and the Nordic countries are committed to ambitious cooperation on renewable energy, energy diversification, smart grids and energy efficiency.
The leaders furthermore discussed collaboration on environmental sustainability including clean water, clean air and circular economy, which is critically important, not only to maintain and support biodiversity, water and wildlife, but also as a basis for food security, human health and prosperity.
India and Nordic countries are also committed to adopting the ambitious Post 2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in the upcoming 2nd Part of COP15 of Convention on Biological Diversity to be held at Kunming, China and work together in its implementation, said the Statement from the 2nd India-Nordic Summit. fiinews.com
