The Office of Science and Innovation (OSI) based at the embassy in Delhi also meets the Pune Knowledge Cluster to explore the collaboration between Swedish and Indian science and technology clusters.

Pune has been a major hub for Swedish companies in India since the 1960s. Of the 108 Swedish companies in Maharashtra, most have their presence in Pune and around 36 have their headquarters in the city. The Swedish business presence in Pune is broad in sectors for manufacturing, information and communication technology, services, sales and distribution.

At the event on Tuesday, an ‘Environmental Sustainability Mapping Study’ was commissioned by 18 Swedish companies from the Swedish Consulate General in Mumbai and the Swedish Chamber of Commerce India (SCCI) in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Research and Education (CERE).

Anna Lekvall, Sweden’s Consul General in Mumbai, said: “The green transition and climate measures are a high priority for Sweden and it is encouraging that the local Swedish companies show leadership and commitment to sustainability. This is the first of its kind sustainability survey of Swedish companies in Maharashtra and Gujarat will further support and strengthen cooperation in the future. “

The three-month qualitative and quantitative study aims to map the sustainability initiatives of the local Swedish companies in western India, their green conversion agenda, highlight their best practices, identify challenges, provide solutions and further strengthen collaborations for sustainability through Sweden-India platforms. Of these companies, 70 percent fall in the manufacturing sector.

The study highlighted how Swedish companies in western India have actively promoted sustainability and shown leadership in environmental protection with initiatives such as switching to renewable energy and electric mobility, implementing energy efficiency, investing in green buildings, promoting water saving and integrating a green transition across value chains. The study also recognized and analyzed the challenges companies face in their quest for green transition and made recommendations to increase sustainability work within internal practices and stakeholder engagement.

Sara Larsson, head of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce in India (SCCI), said: “Working together on environmental sustainability can increase learning, enable local solutions and speed up the transition process. As a next step, Team Sweden aims to promote knowledge exchange, capacity building and collaboration on environmental sustainability between companies, academia and research institutions. “

Larsson said: Since 2018, Swedish companies in Pune have had a long-term collaboration to strengthen women in the workforce under the initiative “Kraftsamla”, a strategic project under the auspices of the Swedish Chamber of Commerce India, in collaboration with the Swedish Embassy in Delhi and the Swedish Consulate General in Mumbai. with Swedish feminist foreign policy. Gathering strength in Swedish means joining forces and is a fantastic opportunity to promote gender equality in the workforce. ”

Larsson added: “Sustainability and innovation are high on the agenda for both countries since a joint action plan was signed in 2018 that encourages strong collaborations in smart cities, green energy conversion, waste management, clean water, sustainable transport and the environment.”

In 2019, both countries launched a Leadership Group for Industrial Change (LeadIT) to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in heavy industry and build a fossil-free future. Sweden strengthened this partnership in March 2021 by participating in the Indian Sweden Innovation Accelerator (ISIA), which supports clean energy, a sustainable environment and public transport. In addition, Swedish industry contributes to India’s development in the areas of green energy, innovation, ICT, digitization, sustainable transport, clean air, recyclable products, health and life sciences, the delegates said.

According to Ambassador Klas Molin, during the recent trade and investment road show in Sweden entitled “Time for India”, team Sweden together with India’s Ambassador to Sweden Tanmay Lal highlighted many opportunities available for Swedish companies in India and for Indian companies in Sweden for representatives of the private sector, authorities and other decision-makers to discuss trade and investment.