PM Modi to embark on five-nation visit this week, including UAE
The India-Nordic Summit will be the highlight of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s five-nation visit beginning this week, including a stopover in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that will focus on energy cooperation and trade.
Modi will pay an official visit to the UAE on May 15, during which he will meet President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to exchange views on bilateral issues, particularly energy cooperation, and regional and international issues, the external affairs ministry said in a statement on Monday.
The two leaders will also discuss ways to advance the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. The visit will help to promote significant trade and investment links between the two countries, the statement said.
The UAE is India’s third largest trade partner and seventh largest source of investment cumulatively over the past 25 years. The UAE hosts more than 4.5 million Indians, and the visit will be an opportunity to discuss their welfare, the statement said.
On the second leg of the visit, Modi will travel to the Netherlands during May 15-17. He will meet King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and hold talks with Prime Minister Rob Jetten.
This visit will build on close cooperation in defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors and a strategic partnership on water.
Modi’s visit early in the tenure of Jetten’s new government will be an opportunity to deepen and expand the bilateral partnership.
The Netherlands is one of India’s largest trade destinations in Europe, with two-way trade worth $27.8 billion in 2024-25. The Netherlands is India’s fourth largest investor with cumulative investments of $55.6 billion.
Modi will then travel to Sweden for the third leg of the visit during May 17-18. He will hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on bilateral relations and to explore new avenues of cooperation, including enhancing trade that was worth $7.75 billion in 2025.
Sweden’s FDI into India during 2000-2025 was worth $2.825 billion, and there is close collaboration between the two sides in green transition, artificial intelligence, emerging technologies, startups, resilient supply chains, defence, space and climate action.
Modi and Kristersson will address the European Roundtable for Industry, a leading pan-European business forum, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.