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Embassy of India

Copenhagen

India-Denmark Relations

Diplomatic relations between India and Denmark, established in September 1949, are based on historical links, common democratic traditions and shared desire for regional, as well as international peace and stability. Bilateral relations were elevated to the level of Green Strategic Partnership during the Virtual Summit held on 28 September 2020 between Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Denmark Ms. Mette Frederiksen.

I. Recent High-Level Interactions

2. Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Denmark on 3-4 May 2022. The visit included two components- bilateral talks with PM Frederiksen and the 2nd India-Nordic Summit hosted by India and Denmark. During the bilateral talks, the two Prime Ministers reviewed the progress of India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership and exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest. H.M. Queen Margrethe II received Prime Minister and hosted an official dinner in his honour. PM also interacted with the Indian community in Copenhagen and addressed an India-Denmark Business Forum held at the headquarters of the Danish Industry (DI). Agreements/MoUs in the fields of migration and mobility, green shipping, cultural exchange programme, water resource management, skill development, animal husbandry and dairying were exchanged. On 4 May, PM attended the 2nd India-Nordic Summit along with the Prime Ministers of Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and Finland and reviewed India-Nordic relations. A Joint Statement reiterating strong commitment to multilateralism and international cooperation, and a robust partnership with Nordic countries to help promote innovation, economic growth, climate friendly solutions and mutually beneficial trade and investments was issued. On the sidelines of the Summit, Prime Minister held bilateral talks with PMs of Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway.

3. Earlier, Prime Minister Ms. Mette Frederiksen paid a State Visit to India on 9-11 October 2021 and held bilateral talks with our Prime Minister. During the visit, she also called on Hon’ble President of India. This was the first visit by a Head of Government to India following the COVID-19 pandemic.

4. Danish Prime Minister Mr. Lars Løkke Rasmussen had visited India from 18-19 January 2019 for the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, where Denmark participated as a Partner Country. Prime Minister Modi also met Danish Prime Minister Rasmussen at the India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm on 17 April 2018.

5. Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of the Kingdom of Denmark visited India from 26 February - 2 March 2023. During the visit they called on Hon’ble President of India, met the Hon’ble Vice President who hosted an official banquet in their honour; inaugurated the exhibition “Silver Treasures from Denmark and India” at National Museum; and participated in the “India and Denmark: Partners for Green and Sustainable Progress” Conference. The Royal Couple also visited Tamil Nadu and met the Governor. They were accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Environment Mr. Magnus Heunicke and the Minister for Climate, Energy & Utilities Mr. Lars Aagaard.

6. External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar (EAM) visited Denmark on 20 & 21 May 2025. EAM called on Prime Minister H.E. Ms. Mette Frederiksen and briefed her on developments in the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark. They also discussed regional and international developments of mutual interest. EAM also called on Speaker of Parliament H E Soren Gade. EAM met Mr Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Mr. Morten Bødskov, Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs. EAM met diaspora representatives on 21 May 2025.

7. Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, met the Danish Minister of Industry, Business and Financial Affairs Mr. Morten Bødskov during his official visit to Copenhagen, Denmark on June 5-6 2025. The two ministers exchanged views on bilateral maritime collaboration under the auspices of the Green Strategic Partnership and the MoU on Maritime Affairs.

8. An All-Party Parliamentary Delegation led by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon'ble Member of Parliament, visited Copenhagen from 29-31 May 2025 to convey India's unwavering stance against terrorism and its resolve to obliterate every trace of it. After attending different meetings and community event, the All-Party Parliamentary delegation departed Copenhagen on 31 May 2025.

9. Recent exchange of Parliamentary delegations include visit of Danish Speaker Mr. Soren Gade and the Danish Presidium from 3-9 March 2024, a 5-member Parliamentary Committee led by Higher Education and Science Minister Ms. Christina Egelund from 3-9 March 2024, a Danish Parliamentary Standing Committee for European Affairs to India headed by MP Mr Niels Fleming Hansen from 17-20 April 2023, 7-member Danish Parliamentary Foreign Policy Committee delegation led by Chairman Martin Lidegaard to India from 3-6 March 2020. From the Indian side, a Parliamentary delegation led by Speaker Smt. Meira Kumar visited Denmark from 16-18 June 2011. A UP Legislature delegation led by Shri Satish Mahana, Speaker, UP Legislative Assembly and Shri Kunwar Manvendra Singh, Chairperson, UP Legislative Council visited Denmark from 13-16 August 2023 and met Chairman of the Danish Parliament’s Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Bertel Haarder.

10. A delegation, led by Shri MB Patil, Minister for Large and Medium Industries and Infrastructure Development, Government of Karnataka visited Denmark on 18-22 June 2025. During the visit the Hon’ble Minister held a series of meetings with leading Danish companies and business chambers, including Carlsberg, KK Wind Solutions, Novonesis, Novo Nordisk, the Confederation of Danish Industry (DI), and the Indian Danish Chamber of Commerce (IDCC). Investment opportunities in the State of Karnataka including in the KWIN city were discussed.

11. Shri Dinesh Pratap Singh, Minister of State (IC) for Agriculture Marketing, Agriculture Foreign Trade and Agriculture Export, Horticulture, Government of Uttar Pradesh visited Denmark to attend the 49th APIMONDIA Congress from 23-27 September 2025 in Scandinavia and hold discussions with relevant stakeholders on agriculture and investment opportunities in the state of UP. During the visit he also flagged off Viksit Bharat run on 28 September 2025 organized by Embassy of India, Copenhagen with various diaspora associations.

12. A 56-member delegation comprising officials and progressive farmers from Rajasthan headed by Cabinet Ministers Shri Kirodi Lal Meena and Shri Jora Ram Kumawat undertook a study visit to Denmark on 9-12 October 2025 and visited agriculture, horticulture, animal husbandry and dairy sites and companies.

13. Dr. Shivkumar Kalyanaraman, Chief Executive Officer of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) visited Denmark from 10-14 June 2025. During the visit he held meetings with Danfoss Foundation, Novo Nordisk Foundation along with a visit to Denmark Technical University (DTU).

14. Danish Minister of Industry, Business, and Financial Affairs Morten Bodskov visited India on 16-18 September 2024 and held bilateral meetings with EAM, Jal Shakti Minister, Shipping Minister, Minister of New and Renewable Energy, and Chief Minister of Gujarat. He also held telephonic exchanges with Minister of Commerce and Industry. The Minister also participated in ReINVEST 2024 in Gandhinagar and India Water Week in Delhi. Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Lars Løkke Rasmussen along with an official delegation paid a visit to India from 21-22 February 2024. He participated in the 9th edition of Raisina Dialogue and held bilateral discussions with EAM Dr S. Jaishankar.

15. Other important ministerial visit from Denmark in recent times include visits by Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Mr. Dan Jorgensen, from 8-12 February 2023 for the UP Global Investors Summit and again a separate visit to attend Clean Energy Ministerial & G20 Ministerial Working Groups on Green Transition and Environment and Climate Sustainability from 19-22 July 2023 and from 7-10 September 2021 as the Minister for Climate, Energy and Utilities; Danish Minister for Development Cooperation Mr. Flemming Moller Mortensen on 10-13 August 2022; Danish Minister of Health Mr. Magnus Heunicke on 7-10 March 2022; Foreign Minister Mr. Jeppe Kofod on 14-16 January 2020 to attend the 5th edition of the Raisina Dialogue; Minister for Environment and Food Mr. Jakob Ellemann-Jensen on 17-19 January 2019; Foreign Minister Mr. Anders Samuelsen from 17-18 December 2018 and 27-30 November 2017 during which he co-chaired the Joint Commission Meeting with the External Affairs Minister.

II. Bilateral Institutional Mechanisms

16. A number of bilateral institutional mechanisms at different levels between India and Denmark are in place. The Joint Commission Meeting at the Foreign Ministers' level (established in 2008) and the Foreign Office Consultations at Secretary-level (established in 1995) provide the broad framework for bilateral consultations encompassing all areas of mutual interest. So far, four meetings of the Joint Commission have been held. The last meeting was held in Copenhagen in September 2021 during which both sides reviewed the progress made since the launch of the Green Strategic Partnership. Foreign Office Consultations have been held seven times since 1995, latest FOCs were held on 17 November in New Delhi.

17. Further, a broad-ranging dialogue mechanisms between various Ministries of both sides have been put in place by establishing 12 Joint Working Groups in (i) Renewable Energy, (ii) Shipping and Ports, (iii) Agriculture & Animal Husbandry, (iv) Food Processing, (v) Science & Technology, (vi) Labour Mobility, (vii) Environment, (viii) Smart Cities, (ix) Digitisation (x) Energy Cooperation, and (xi) Health and Medicine and (xii) Water. Five Joint Working Groups on Health, Water, Renewable Energy, Power and Shipping held meetings in 2024. Bilateral calls on Cutting Edge Green Hydrogen Technology jointly funded by The Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science and Department of Science and Technology, Government of India were announced in October 2024.

18. India and Denmark have signed a Migration and Mobility Partnership Agreement on 22 Feb 2024 in New Delhi. The Agreement was signed by External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishanker and Danish Finance Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, which aims to set up a framework to facilitate mobility and employment opportunities for skills and talents from both sides. First meeting of the JWG on Migration and Mobility Partnership was held on 27-28 February 2025 in Copenhagen.

III. Commercial and Economic Relations

19. As per Denmark Statistics, the total volume of bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Denmark is around USD 6.1 billion in 2024 as compared to around USD 5.3 billion in 2023. It was USD 6.6 billion in 2022. Indian exports (in goods and services) reached USD 2.75 billion in 2024 while imports amounted to around USD 3.3 billion.

20. Bilateral commodities trade in goods figures from calendar year 2016-2024 are given below:

(Figures in US$ million)

Calendar Year

India's Exports

India's Imports

Total
Trade

Growth Rate %

India's BoT Surplus

2016

1219

1008

2227

3.5

211

2017

1308

1116

2424

8.12

192

2018

1546

1225

2771

12.52

321

2019

1437

1347

2784

0.46

90

2020

1125

1032

2157

-29.06

93

2021

1329

1107

2436

11.45

222

2022

1351

876

2227

-9.38

475

2023

1027

801

1828

-21.83

226

2024

1070

973

2043

10.52

97



21. During 2024, bilateral trade in services reached US$ 4 billion; exports from India reaching US$ 1.7 billion and imports amounting to US$ 2.3 billion. Bilateral trade in services between India and Denmark was USD 3.5 billion in 2023; import to India in services amounting to USD 1.9 billion and export by India in services valued to USD 1.6 billion. (Source: Denmark Statistics)

22. As per Denmark Statistics figures, the value of total direct investment inflows from Denmark to India during 2000-2023 was US$ 2.1 billion while as per DPIIT data, the total Danish investment was reported at US$ 1.4 billion from April 2000 – September 2024. Around 200 Danish companies have invested in India in sectors such as shipping, renewable energy, environment, agriculture, food processing and smart urban development. Several major Danish companies have built new manufacturing factories under the ‘Make in India’ scheme. Major Danish companies present in India include AP Moller Maersk, Vestas, LM Wind Power, Grundfos, Danfoss, Carlsberg, FL Smidth, Novo Nordisk, Haldar Topsoe, Ramboll and Cowi etc.

IV. Cultural Cooperation

23. A Cultural Exchange Programme was signed during the visit of Hon’ble PM to Denmark in May 2022 for taking forward cooperation in the cultural sector. Under this framework, a joint exhibition “Silver Treasures from India and Denmark” was inaugurated at the National Museum in New Delhi during the visit of the Royal Couple from Denmark in February 2023. Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) to commemorate 75 years of India’s Independence were celebrated with much fervour across Denmark with lighting up iconic Danske Industries building with the Indian tricolor, hoisting of the tricolor at the Royal Stock Exchange, Børsen in Central Copenhagen and a multitude of events including Har Ghar Tiranga initiative.

24. The year 2024 was celebrated as the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral diplomatic relations between India and Denmark. The years was marked by various events, cultural programmes, seminars on India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership at Asia House, Copenhagen, University of Copenhagen and Arhus University etc.

25. International Day of Yoga is celebrated every year by the Embassy across Denmark with active participation of several organisations involved in imparting Yoga training in Denmark. The 10th Anniversary of the International Day of Yoga was celebrated in June 2025 with events being held in several important cities of the kingdom, viz. Copenhagen, Arhus, Aalborg, Sonderborg, Herning, Odense, and The UN City. The flagship IDY event was held at the iconic “Operaparken” by the waterfront overlooking Amalienborg Palace on 21 June 2025, under the theme “One Earth, One Health”.

26. Under “Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam” initiative, in an event organized by Embassy on 5 June 2025 Indian Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal planted a tree in the Embassy premises.

27. On 28 September 2025, Viksit Bharat Run was organized in collaboration with all the Indian diaspora associations of Denmark and the Tårnby Municipality with participation from the Indian community and Friends of India. The event saw the participation of more than 300 people including children, young adults, and even senior citizens who came forward to express their strong support to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. Chief Guests of the event were Shri Dinesh Pratap Singh, Hon’ble Minister of State (Independent Charge) Horticulture, Agriculture Marketing, Agriculture Foreign Trade And Agriculture Export, Government of Uttar Pradesh, who was on an official visit to Denmark and Mr. Allan S. Andersen, Mayor of Tårnby Municipality.

V. Indian Diaspora / People-to-People Contacts

28. The size of the Indian community in Denmark, inclusive of both NRIs and PIOs is approx 22,204. These include IT professionals, doctors, engineers, finance & banking professionals, academics and students. Important streets and public places named after Indian leaders include Gandhi Plaene (Gandhi Park), Indiakaj (road named after India) and Nehru Road near Aarhus University in Aarhus. There are over 30 Indian community associations.

29. For the first time ever, the Indian community presented a 12-hour non-stop Indian cultural extravaganza ‘Namste Denmark’ on September in Copenhagen’s most prominent central square the Townhall with over 10000 Indians and Friends of India visiting the event. The event organized in association with the Embassy of India and supported by the Diaspora Engagement Division, MEA was a huge success showing the vibrance of the Indian community.

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November 2025