President of the Republic of Finland Alexander Stubb paid a state visit to India on 4–7 March 2026. The visit began in New Delhi, where President Stubb met with President of India Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankari, along with other representatives of the state leadership
President Stubb thanked Prime Minister Modi for the invitation to pay a state visit to India. Their discussions focused on bilateral relations between the two countries, the current global security situation, and conflicts in the neighbouring regions of b0oth counties.
“Relations between Finland and India have always been good, and our aim is to further intensify them”, the President said after the meeting.
During the state visit, a joint statement was issued outlining cooperation in areas such as trade, economy, science and innovation.
“India is one of the world’s largest and most influential countries, the world’s largest democracy, and a key strategic partner for Europe. Its importance in foreign, security and trade policy is difficult to overstate,” the President stressed.
“As the leader of a small European country, I greatly value the opportunity to exchange views with Prime Minister Modi and hope that our dialogue will continue.”
The President concluded by noting that Finland and India share democratic values.
India’s strength is based on active engagement
As part of the state visit program, President Stubb participated in the Raisina Dialogue 2026, a conference focusing on geopolitics and geoeconomics that brings together high-level decision-makers and experts, particularly from Asian countries.
As the conference’s chief guest, President Stubb delivered the inaugural address. In his speech, he discussed the ongoing transformation of the current world order and India’s role in shaping the emerging one.
“We need to rebalance the world order. We need to agree on the principles on which we can find common solutions to common problems. I can hardly think of a better place to do it than New Delhi. We need a New Delhi moment.”
According to the President India’s strength is based on active engagement.
“A timely example of this is the EU-India Strategic Partnership that took major steps forward earlier this year with the conclusion of a comprehensive Free Trade Agreement and the launch of a Security and Defence Partnership. This agreement, and the other major trade agreements signed by both India and the EU in the past year, underline the fact that we still believe in multilateral cooperation and the benefits it brings.”
Strengthening Finland–India trade relations
On Friday 6 March, the state visit continued in Mumbai. The President’s programme featured meetings with the business sector and a lecture at the University of Mumbai.
Finland’s goal is to at least double its trade with India. Representatives of eighteen Finnish companies participated in the state visit, four of which signed commercial agreements.
“India is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing economies,” the President said, and emphasised the significance of Finland’s trade relations with India
President Stubb was accompanied on the state visit by Minister of Climate and the Environment Sari Multala, Minister of Employment Matias Marttinen, Member of Parliament and Chair of the Parliamentary Friendship Group with India Timo Harakka and Mayor of the City of Espoo Kai Mykkänen.
