He came, saw, was conquered! [ Sunday, November 27, 2005 10:12:07 am IANS ]
NEW DELHI: India's global image as the new mecca of information and high technology found a royal admirer during a little noticed visit last week from Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf who came with a 50-member delegation of the Royal Technology Mission (RTM).
King Carl XVI Gustaf's coming to India as the head of a business delegation - and not on a state visit - was symptomatic of India's status as a rising power and an investment destination.
"He was all praise for Indian achievements in business and industry," said officials accompanying the RTM. The king had earlier paid a state visit to India in 1993.
Like many recent visiting heads of state and government, King Carl XVI Gustaf, who is here as patron of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences (IVA), started his private visit to the country from Bangalore, the information technology hub that acts as a magnet for software majors.
The king visited Wipro Technologies complex in Bangalore along with the RTM delegation that comprises Sweden's top industry leaders, academics and diplomats. The RTM is headed by Hans Dalborg, chairman of the IVA.
Wipro chairman Azim Premji hoped the mission's visit would enhance economic and cultural ties between Sweden and India.
The royal delegation also visited AstraZeneca, one of the world's leading pharmaceutical companies, and Dhruva Interactive, India's premier gaming company. Dhruva Interactive, founded in March 1997, has pioneered game development in India and publishes high quality PC and mobile games.
The RTM's visit was designed to study the opportunities and driving forces that attract many international companies and organisations to establish part of their operations in India, as well as learn about the Indian domestic market as a base for further expansion and export.
"A country with a growth like India is always an interesting investment and business opportunity. The growth in many sectors and in many companies is very strong," said Ulf Nordqvist, chairman of the Sweden-India Business Council (SIBC).
Swedish Prime Minister Goran Persson, who visited India early this year, had lauded the country's growing global profile and said Sweden planned to intensify relations with India. Bilateral trade between India and Sweden has been steadily growing. India has emerged as the 20th largest market for Sweden with Indian exports to the country increasing by over 50 percent in 2003. Major Swedish multinationals like ABB, Alfa Laval, Astra, Atlas Copco, Electrolux, Ericsson, Volvo and Hoganas have invested in India.
Some of Indian IT companies have business partnerships with major Swedish companies like Ericsson, Telia, Volvo and Microsoft Mobile.
The two countries have identified biotechnology, telecommunication, environment technology and heavy engineering as the key areas of cooperation.
During his meeting with President A P J Abdul Kalam here, the Swedish king, who wraps up his week-long visit Friday, struck a new note in India-Sweden relationship, saying his country was keen on collaborations in science and technology. The king had last visited India in 1993.