Diplomatist Magazine Diplomatist July 2018 | Page 63

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
The Ambassadors highlighted the need for a Free Trade
Agreement between the two sides in order to better facilitate
the entry and exit of small and medium-sized companies
that wish to start businesses in India
H.E. Mr. Peter Taksoe-Jensen, Ambassador of Denmark to
India; H.E. Ms. Nina Vaskunlahti, Ambassador of Finland to
India; Mr. Gautam Bhattacharyya, Deputy Head of Mission,
Embassy of Sweden in New Delhi; and Ms Hanne Meldgaard,
Minister Counsellor & Deputy Head of Mission, Royal
Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi - discussed the potential
areas for collaboration where the Nordic countries have
something of interest to offer to India, including renewable
energy, manufacturing and waste management.
The event, attended by over 100 people belonging to
the business world, academia, and the public and private
sectors, concluded with a question and answer session where
the Nordic ambassadors answered questions on particular
areas of collaboration between their countries and India with
regard to wind and solar energy, education and literature, and
healthcare. On the issue of the slow growth in bilateral trade
and investment between the two regions, the Ambassadors
highlighted the need for a Free Trade Agreement between the
two sides in order to better facilitate the entry and exit of small
and medium-sized companies that wish to start businesses
in India. Presently, Nordic companies are fi nding it diffi cult
to deal with the lengthy bureaucratic process in India. Thus,
the ambassadors noted, it is necessary for the Government of
India to adopt a more effi cient and fl exible decision making
process so that India-Nordic collaborations in the various fi elds
discussed - renewable energy, waste management, agriculture
and food, education, ICT, and healthcare - can be made
possible. In spite of the continuing hurdles towards achieving
a stronger Indo-Nordic partnership, all fi ve ambassadors and
heads of mission remain optimistic about the future. 
Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Diplomatist • Vol 6 • Issue 7 • July 2018, Noida • 63