Finland Eyes Deeper India Ties in Circular Economy, Green Energy, Tech and Defence

The World Circular Economy Forum 2026 will be held in Gandhinagar from September 15-18. It is the world’s largest and most important event dedicated to the circular economy. 

The forum is being jointly organised by Finland and India and will feature global discussions on developing circular economy systems and creating new business models. Finland has a long tradition of developing circular business models, and I am looking forward to many productive discussions at the event. 

Finland can share its experience in designing products, minimising material consumption and making better use of waste and secondary materials. Such cooperation with India is already underway, but the forum will bring greater attention to these experiences and opportunities. 

The agreement is expected to take effect early next year, although I do not have the exact dates. It will make it easier for businesses to expand, collaborate and undertake joint development projects. 

The FTA is an excellent step forward for EU-India economic relations and will also strengthen commercial cooperation between Finland and India. 

This is not my primary field of expertise, but Finland has several strong companies working in artificial intelligence and semiconductors. We can share examples of how these companies have established and expanded their operations. 

Finnish companies are already holding discussions in India, and we can help bring more of their expertise and experience to the Indian market. 

Finnish technical and research institutes are conducting considerable research in battery technologies, and Finland can bring this expertise and know-how to India. Although Finland is not a major battery manufacturer, it can contribute advanced knowledge in research, innovation and technological development. 

Information and communications technology is one promising sector, particularly network development led by Nokia. I also see considerable potential in construction, where Finland has expertise in sustainable technologies and business models. 

The maritime sector offers further opportunities, including port infrastructure and cleaner marine engines. Space is another particularly interesting area: Finland has a long tradition of developing space technologies, including satellites and space-based data services, and this could emerge as an important new field of cooperation between Finland and India. 

Beyond Nokia, Finland has many small and medium-sized enterprises conducting research and developing new technologies in telecommunications. Working with Nokia could help some of these companies enter and expand in the Indian market. 

Nokia already has a major presence here, and India is its largest market. The company could help bring smaller Finnish firms into India by forming consortia with them, creating substantial potential for wider collaboration. 

Finnish and Indian universities and higher-education institutions are already holding extensive discussions on greater cooperation. Finland has attracted considerable interest in India because of the international reputation of its education system. 

I see many promising opportunities to expand institutional partnerships, student mobility and research collaboration between the two countries. 

Several Finnish companies operate in the defence sector. One prominent example is Patria, which manufactures defence equipment and military vehicles. 

I see potential for cooperation between Finland and India in this sector, although bilateral defence-industrial engagement remains limited at present.