PM Modi to embark on five-nation visit this week, including UAE; energy, trade in focus

Modi will travel to Italy on May 19-20 for talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and a meeting with President Sergio Mattarella. The visit aligns with the joint strategic action plan for 2025-2029 and follows a strong trade and investment trajectory, with bilateral trade reaching $16.77 (2025) and investments totaling $3.66 billion between April 2000 and September 2025. The visit underscores efforts to deepen Europe-India cooperation, including after the India-EU FTA.

The India-Nordic Summit will be held in Oslo on May 19, with Modi joined by Prime Minister Støre and leaders from Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden. The summit aims to give a more strategic dimension to India’s relationship with the Nordic countries, covering technology, innovation, green transition, blue economy, defence, space and the Arctic. It will bolster India’s bilateral trade with Nordic countries (worth $19 billion in 2024) and investment ties and help build resilient supply chains post India-EU and India-EFTA deals.

Modi will travel to Norway on May 18-19 for his first visit to the country in 43 years. He will meet King Harald V, Queen Sonja and Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Modi and Støre will address the India-Norway Business and Research Summit, focusing on trade and investment under the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement. Bilateral trade was around $2.73 billion in 2024, and Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) holdings in the Indian capital market are close to $28 billion.

Modi will travel to Sweden on May 17-18 for bilateral talks with Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to explore new cooperation avenues, including expanding trade (reported as $7.75 billion in 2025). Sweden’s FDI into India from 2000-2025 amounted to $2.825 billion. The talks will cover 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 with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

Modi will travel to the Netherlands during May 15-17, meeting King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Prime Minister Rob Jetten. The visit will deepen cooperation in defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors and a strategic partnership on water. Two-way trade with the Netherlands was $27.8 billion in 2024-25, and the Netherlands is India's fourth-largest investor with cumulative investments of $55.6 billion.

Modi will visit the UAE on May 15 for talks with President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on bilateral energy cooperation, regional and international issues, and ways to advance the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership. The UAE hosts more than 4.5 million Indians, and the visit will address their welfare and promote bilateral trade and investment.

The External Affairs Ministry announced Modi's five-nation visit beginning this week, with a stopover in the UAE that will focus on energy cooperation and trade as a highlight of the trip. The India-Nordic Summit is a key component, with discussions to advance the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and address regional and international issues, including welfare for the Indian community in the UAE.