India & Finland Ventures into Digital, Sustainable Partnership

During a virtual summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Finland Prime Minister Sanna Marin has announced the digital partnership in information and communications technology, future mobile technologies and digital education.

Also, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) states that both the leaders has announced a sustainability partnership that involves renewable and clean energy, circular economy as well as sustainable mobility.

In the summit, Modi and Marin reaffirmed their strong commitment to multilateralism, rules based international order and to work towards sustainable development goals and combating climate change.

Neeta Bhushan, Joint Secretary, Central Europe division in the MEA says, "Both sides noted the growing importance of Africa and referred to their efforts to enhance cooperation in Africa."

Both the prime ministers have also exchanged their views on the coronavirus pandemic including the vaccine solidarity and emphasised the unprecedented global efforts in accelaraing the development and scaling up of manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine.

Both the parties had also announced a high-level dialogue between the education ministries of both the countries to stretch their cooperation in the area.

She said the virtual summit would help in carrying forward the momentum of the multi-faceted bilateral ties.

At a media briefing, she said, "The two leaders expressed satisfaction and confidence that the areas of cooperation under India- Finland partnership will continue to deepen and gain further strength"

During his speech, Modi said India has taken care of the requirements of the world along with its domestic struggle during the pandemic and that more than 58 million made in India manufactured coronavirus vaccine doses has reached close to 70 countries in the recent weeks.

Furthermore, he states that both India and Finland believed in rules-based, transparent, humanitarian and democratic global order and the two countries have strong cooperation in areas like technology, innovation, clean energy, environment and education.

Modi also urged Finland to join the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI). Both the organisations took shape following India's initiative.

"These international institutions will benefit from Finland's ability and expertise," he said. The Finnish prime minister commented that there was scope for further intensification of bilateral ties in areas of education, technology and trade.