Jharkhand News : Representatives of the Sweden–India Business Council on Tuesday paid a courtesy visit to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren to explore opportunities for strengthening trade, industrial and investment cooperation between Jharkhand and Sweden.
According to a press release issued by the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, Cecilia Oldne, Chief India Representative of the Sweden–India Business Council, met Chief Minister Hemant Soren in the presence of Kalpana Murmu Soren, MLA and Chairperson of the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly’s Women and Child Development Committee, along with senior officials of the state government.
During the meeting, Cecilia Oldne assured full cooperation from the Sweden–India Business Council in expanding business partnerships with Jharkhand. She informed that more than 50 Swedish companies are currently operating across various sectors in India and said Jharkhand has the potential to emerge as an important investment destination, particularly in infrastructure, urban mobility, manufacturing and green technology.
The discussions also reviewed outcomes of deliberations held during the World Economic Forum in Davos and interactions with Swedish companies, including Volvo, during Chief Minister Hemant Soren’s visit to Sweden last year. To take these discussions forward, both sides agreed to organise a special roundtable meeting in April. The proposed roundtable will focus on urban mobility, including financing models for urban transport, sustainable mobility solutions and the application of modern technologies.
Speaking on the occasion, Chief Minister Hemant Soren said the Jharkhand government is continuously working to make education more accessible and inclusive. He highlighted that every year the state provides bicycles to lakhs of government school students to ensure that children from remote areas can commute to school easily without disruption to their education.
The Chief Minister urged the Sweden–India Business Council to prepare a detailed feasibility report on enhancing bicycle usage in Jharkhand and exploring the potential introduction of e-bicycles for school students. He said such a study would help assess how e-bicycles can be made safe, affordable and effective for children, while promoting innovation in education and environmentally friendly transportation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening long-term cooperation and taking the Jharkhand–Sweden partnership to new heights.
