Sweden’s State Secretary, Daniel Westlén, led a successful delegation to India last week, marking a significant milestone in the 3rd India-Sweden Joint Working Group (Environment) meeting, bringing together key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia, and civil society. These discussions focused on critical areas such as climate action, energy transition, and resource efficiency – pillars of a green and resilient future.
The meeting culminated in a constructive dialogue with Leena Nandan, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Government of India, where strategies for climate action and industrial transition were discussed. Sweden reiterated its steadfast support for India’s energy transformation journey.
During his time in India, Daniel Westlén visited the National Institute of Solar Energy (NISE), where he had an insightful meeting with Mohammad Rihan, Director General, NISE, to explore opportunities for advancing research, development, and skill-building in solar energy technologies.
A key highlight of his visit was the Spowdi Smart Farm, located on the NISE premises. There, State Secretary Westlén had the opportunity to witness the use of SPOWDI technology, a cutting-edge Swedish irrigation solution that leverages solar energy for efficient and sustainable farming. This smart technology is continuously being tested for its performance in drip-irrigating a 400 square meter area, showcasing its potential to help address water scarcity – a pressing issue as global temperatures rise.
This Smart Farm initiative is a direct outcome of the bilateral Energy and Environment MoUs between India and Sweden, emphasizing the shared commitment to leveraging innovative technologies to overcome critical challenges such as water management and sustainable agriculture.
Daniel Westlén further engaged with Swedish companies like H&M, IKEA, Tetra Pak, Camfil India, and Systemair India on their contributions to circular economy practices and market expansion in India.
The visit concluded with a fruitful meeting with Tanmay Kumar, Special Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India. Their discussion focused on climate action and industry transition, with Sweden eager to contribute to India’s energy transformation. The continued leadership and cooperation through LeadIT and the India-Sweden Industry Transition Partnership, building on shared commitments made at the Dubai Climate Summit, was also highlighted by the State Secretary.
Overall, the visit underscored Sweden’s unwavering commitment to strengthening the collaborative bond between the two nations.
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