External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will undertake a two-nation visit to Bulgaria and Finland from June 10 to 11, with discussions expected to focus on bilateral relations and key global developments, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday.

According to the MEA, Jaishankar will first travel to Bulgaria on June 10, where he is scheduled to meet the country’s leadership and hold talks with his Bulgarian counterpart on issues of mutual interest.

The visit comes as India seeks to further strengthen ties with European partners amid evolving geopolitical and economic dynamics.

Bulgaria Visit To Focus On Bilateral And Global Issues

India and Bulgaria share longstanding and friendly relations that date back well before the establishment of formal diplomatic ties in 1954. The two countries have maintained close people-to-people contacts and cultural exchanges, with historical links believed to stretch back to the eighth century.

During his visit, Jaishankar is expected to review bilateral cooperation and exchange views on regional and international developments with Bulgarian leaders.

The MEA described relations between the two countries as warm and rooted in their rich civilisational heritage.

Finland To Host Jaishankar At Kultaranta Talks

Following his Bulgaria visit, Jaishankar will travel to Finland on June 11 to participate in the 14th edition of the Kultaranta Talks. This year’s dialogue will be held under the theme, “A World in Transition: Global, Regional and Local Perspectives.”

Besides attending the annual forum, the External Affairs Minister is also expected to hold meetings with his Finnish counterpart and other senior leaders.

India and Finland have traditionally enjoyed cordial relations, with cooperation expanding significantly in recent years in areas such as research, innovation and investment.

The Indian community in Finland has emerged as a vibrant and well-integrated diaspora, while Indian culture and yoga continue to enjoy widespread popularity in the Nordic nation.

Trade And Diplomatic Ties Continue To Grow

Finland established its resident embassy in India in 1949, making New Delhi the location of the first Asian diplomatic mission opened by the Nordic country. India, in turn, opened its embassy in Helsinki in 1968.

Finland currently has honorary consulates in Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, and inaugurated a consulate in Mumbai in November 2022. The first Consul General assumed office on January 1, 2023.

Economic ties between the two countries have also witnessed steady growth. According to the MEA, total trade in goods and services between India and Finland reached EUR 3 billion in 2022, with India recording a trade surplus.

Goods trade stood at EUR 1.4 billion, with Indian exports valued at EUR 765 million and imports from Finland at EUR 637 million. The figure represented a growth of 45.5 per cent compared to 2021.

Trade in services rose to EUR 1.65 billion in 2022 from EUR 1.24 billion a year earlier. Data up to September 2023 indicated that overall trade remained stable at around EUR 2.31 billion, underscoring the growing economic partnership between the two countries.

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