Sweden will probably lift the entry ban for travelers from India soon, probably at the end of the month.

Sweden had an entry ban due to the pandemic. But we issue visas for necessary travel. I am hopeful that travelers from India will soon be exempted “, said Sweden’s Ambassador to India Klas Molin in an interaction with Business line. The travel ban had been extended until October 30, 2021 at the latest.

A traveler to Sweden does not necessarily have to be vaccinated but must be tested for Covid-19 upon entry.

Interestingly, despite the pandemic slowing down the Indian economy, Swedish companies in India are optimistic about their future prospects here. As part of the India Business Climate Survey 2021 conducted by Sweden, more than 60 percent of approximately 190 Swedish companies in India that participated stated that the majority of Swedish companies are very optimistic about the Indian market and plan to expand their operations. About 51 percent of those surveyed want to increase their investments in the next 12 months.

in Molin. “If you look at Swedish companies in India in total, estimated at between 220-250, I think there have been over 100 in the last ten years. There is a positive trend, he says.

To take on the challenge of promoting bilateral investments even in pandemic times, the Swedish Embassy in India, with some help from the Indian Embassy in Stockholm, is arranging a roadshow to attract new investors from Sweden to the country next month. “Our prime ministers have commissioned us to increase both the level and volume of trade and investment. In this case, we travel to Sweden. And I take part of my team here in Delhi,” says Molin.

The Ambassador’s team, which would include the Trade Commissioner, the Trade and Investment Advisor, the Science and Innovation Advisor and the Executive Director of the Swedish India Chamber of Commerce, will meet in Sweden with representatives of the Sweden India Business Council, to attend the five-day the roadshow, which begins on October 8, to market India as an investment destination. Invest India’s Deepak Bagla would also participate in the initiative.

More than 200 Swedish companies are expected to participate in the roadshow which will take place in four cities including Stockholm, Luleå, Gothenburg and Malmö.

Trade in goods and services between India and Sweden has increased from $ 3 billion in 2016 to $ 4.5 billion in 2019. India is the third largest trading partner for Sweden in Asia.