PM Modi Receives Warm Cultural Welcome from Indian Community in Gothenburg, Strengthens India–Sweden Ties

Gothenburg (Sweden), May 2026 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi received an enthusiastic and warm welcome from members of the Indian diaspora as he arrived in Gothenburg on Sunday, marking the third leg of his five-nation tour.

A large gathering of Indian community members welcomed the Prime Minister at the venue, waving both Indian and Swedish flags and chanting “Modi, Modi” with excitement. The atmosphere reflected strong cultural bonding and emotional connection between the diaspora and India.

Prime Minister Modi, along with his Swedish counterpart Ulf Kristersson, also witnessed cultural and orchestral performances organised in his honour. A special highlight of the welcome ceremony was a rendition of the devotional song ‘Vaishnava Jana To’, performed by Swedish opera singer Charlotta Huldt, which added a deeply symbolic and cultural touch to the reception.

Expressing gratitude for the gesture, PM Modi said the affection shown by the Indian community in Gothenburg was “truly heartening.” In a post on social media platform X, he appreciated the diaspora’s contribution in strengthening bilateral relations between India and Sweden. “Their deep connection with India and their contribution to strengthening India-Sweden ties make us all very proud,” he wrote.

The Prime Minister also noted the significance of the cultural moment, stating that it was encouraging to see timeless Indian values resonating abroad. Referring to the performance of ‘Vaishnava Jana To’, he said it reflected the global reach of Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals and expressed hope that such values continue to inspire efforts toward building a better world.

Earlier in the day, PM Modi arrived in Sweden after concluding his visit to the Netherlands. He was received at Gothenburg airport by Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson in a warm diplomatic gesture. Modi expressed appreciation for the welcome, stating that he looked forward to strengthening India–Sweden ties during the visit.

In another post, the Prime Minister highlighted that discussions with Swedish leadership would focus on expanding cooperation in trade, investment, innovation, defence, and emerging technologies. He also noted plans to engage with European business leaders at the European Round Table for Industry, alongside European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, to deepen investment and economic linkages between India and Europe.

Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal also welcomed PM Modi’s arrival, describing Sweden as an important partner for India. He emphasised that the visit would add fresh momentum to bilateral relations. Jaiswal noted that this is PM Modi’s second visit to Sweden, following his participation in the India–Nordic Summit in 2018.

Adding to the ceremonial welcome, Swedish Gripen fighter jets escorted the Prime Minister’s aircraft as it entered Swedish airspace, symbolising the importance of the visit.

During the visit, PM Modi and PM Kristersson are expected to review the full spectrum of bilateral relations and explore new areas of cooperation to further strengthen ties between the two nations. The leaders will also address the European Round Table for Industry, a prominent forum of European business leaders, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The visit is expected to significantly boost India–Sweden relations, particularly in areas such as technology, sustainability, innovation, and research and development, reinforcing the growing strategic partnership between the two countries.