An INDIAN insight into Europe
Resetting the India-Denmark Relations with a Green Strategic Partnership
Prime Minister Modi and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen had a virtual summit on 28 September 2020 and took stock of the bilateral relations. In the face of the changing international dynamics due to the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact on economy, both leaders emphasised the need to diversify the global supply chains beyond dependence on one country. Without naming China, PM Modi said that India was working with Japan and Australia for such a diversification and this statement has relevance in the backdrop of the current standoff at the Indian border.
India and Denmark have long standing relations and in 2008 and 2009 Danish Prime Ministers visited India. However, due to the extradition of Kim Davy, (a Danish national accused in the Purulia arms drops case) the relations hit a road block between 2010-2016. Official contacts between both sides were restored in end of 2016. Apart from having ministerial meetings, PM Modi met Danish PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen in the first Nordic Summit in 2018 in Stockholm, indicating that the past issue would no longer define the future of the New Delhi- Copenhagen engagement. Denmark was the partner country in the Vibrant Gujrat Global Summit 2019 in Gandhinagar and PM Rasmussen interacted with PM Modi.
In the last three years, the relations have seen a significant scaling up and the current virtual summit saw elevation of the bilateral equation to a Green Strategic Partnership with a focus on trade, commerce and energy. As the MEA highlighted, it is a new age partnership, envisaged to be mutually beneficial and aimed at a sustainable and green economic growth, together addressing global challenges and focusing on implementing the Paris Agreement.
Both sides also agreed to the 2nd Nordic countries Summit that brings India into deeper conversation with a smaller group of five European countries who are established leaders in technology, climate change, innovation and digital transformation. That the Nordics look at another platform of engagement with India also affirms New Delhi growing economic and political value.
The Green Strategic Partnership is aimed at enhancing cooperating and reaping the benefits by a focussed cooperation. In the above framework, Energy and climate change tops the list and seeks to expand the renewable energy supplies while reducing the climate impact. India International Solar Alliance got another push with Denmark agreeing to join it. This is an emphatic statement for India’s growing leadership role in renewable energy efforts. Both sides agreed to expand cooperation on water and circular economy which seeks to address the diverse water consumption and waste issues through the joint Technology Alliance. Another area of focus is sustainable urban development and smart cities that is high on New Delhi priorities as urbanisation is growing in the country.
As both sides gave a push to Business, trade and shipping, it is important to note here that Copenhagen-Malmo port is the largest in the Nordic region and also serves the Baltic region, and so Denmark offers the opportunity for Indian trade and commerce to benefit by exports through this port into northern Europe. It also highlights India’s growing efforts at diversifying its commercial maritime access points and building other supply lines. More than 140 Danish companies are present in India and bring with them scientific knowhow and business potential and it lead to synergise the focus on science, technology and digitisation. New Delhi has proposed green energy parks and skill institutes to be set up in the country as where Danish firms are present.
The virtual summit underlined the heightened need for collaboration on health in the backdrop of the impact of Covid -19 and India also sought to enhance cooperation in this sector given its Pharma advantage. In addition, both sides endorsed their commitment to a rules based multilateral system, including bringing about comprehensive reforms of the WTO. In the words of the Danish PM, the Summit outcome was not only a milestone, but a forward looking agreement aimed at strengthening the bilateral relationship.
30. 9. 2020
