India, Sweden signed 6 agreements during visit of Pranab Mukherjee to Sweden

India and Sweden on 1 June 2015 signed 6 agreements to boost ties and restart the bilateral strategic dialogue. The agreements were inked in presence of President Pranab Mukherjee, who is on a state visit to Sweden.

Mukherjee is the first ever Indian head of state to visit Sweden and will be in the country from 31 May to 2 June 2015.

At present, he is on a five-day long visit to Sweden and Belarus between 31 May and 4 June 2015.

List of agreements/MoUs signed
• MoU on Cooperation in the field of Sustainable Urban Development: It aims to develop close and long term cooperation in the field of sustainable development and protection of the environment through dialogue and interaction on global sustainable urban development issues, exchange of knowledge, institutional cooperation and commercial relations.
• MoU on cooperation in the field of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises: It aims at promoting partnership projects, institution to institution and enterprise to enterprise cooperation related to MSMEs.
• Agreement on Visa Exemption for diplomatic passports: It will facilitate entry of citizens of India and Sweden who are holders of diplomatic passports into their respective countries with the aim to strengthen the friendly relations
• Letter of Intent on Collaboration in Polar and Ocean Research: It was signed to encourage collaboration in the areas of Polar (Antarctic and Arctic) and Ocean Research by enhancing scientific capabilities, conducting joint research and survey activities, exchange of informational material on education, training and research matters, etc.
• Memorandum of Intent (MoI) on cooperation in ageing research and health: It was signed between the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare (FORTE).
• MoI between the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO), India and the Swedish Medical Products Agency (MPA): It is complimentary to the ongoing cooperation between India and Sweden covering the area of health and is for increasing bilateral cooperation in the fields of pharmacovigilance, electronic submissions in related matter and clinical trials among others.

Apart from this, Sweden also expressed their support for India's claim to permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and membership of the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR). MTCR established in 1987 is an informal and voluntary association of 34 countries favouring non-proliferation of unmanned delivery systems capable of delivering weapons of mass destruction and seek to coordinate national export licensing efforts aimed at preventing their proliferation.

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