India-Denmark Relations refer to the bilateral relation between the Kingdom of Denmark and the Republic of India.
The first contact between the two nations was in the 17th century, when a Danish colony was established in 1620 at Tranquebar, now located in Tamil Nadu.
On October 9, 2021, the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, visited India where she and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inked two agreements on research in climate change, while another MoU on setting up a “green hydrogen” electrolyser plant was signed.
It was the first state-level visit by a Danish premier since bilateral relations were frozen a decade ago.
This article will further give details about the India-Denmark relations within the context of the IAS Exam.
History of India-Denmark Relations
The Danish East India Company established a colony in modern-day Tamil Nadu in 1620. The Danes would establish other trading outposts and colonies all over India, notably in Serampore in West Bengal.
All of these colonies would be sold to the British Empire in 1845. Nicobar Island, another Danish colony, was sold in 1868 to the British Empire, thus nullifying Danish colonial presence in the Indian subcontinent. Following India’s independence in 1947, Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru paid a visit to Denmark in 1957 laying the foundation of a friendly relationship between India and Denmark.
The Indo-Danish relations hit a rough patch in 2012, when the Danish government refused to extradite the prime accused in the Purulia Arms case. Due to this incident the Indian government scaled down relations with Denmark and directed all senior officials not to meet any Danish diplomats posted in the country.
Despite this, the bilateral relations between India and Denmark are cordial and friendly, based on cooperation in political, economic, academic and research fields. There have been periodic high-level visits between the two countries.
Economic relations between India and Denmark
As per official Danish government sources, the total volume of bilateral trade in goods and services between India and Denmark was valued at $3.58 billion in 2020. The major export items from India to Denmark are as follows:
- Textiles
- Apparels
- Yarns
- Road vehicles and components
- Metal goods
- Iron
- Steel
- Chemical products
Major Danish exports to India are as follows:
- Medicinal goods
- Power generating machinery
- Industrial machinery
- Organic Chemicals
Latest developments regarding Indo-Danish relations
- Following the visit of the Danish PM in 2021, India and Denmark launched the Green Strategic Partnership for the delivery of sustainable development solutions.
- An MoU was signed between Reliance Industries and Danish Company Stiesdal Fuel Technologies. The MoU is aimed at increasing cooperation between the two countries through information exchange, trademarks Geographical indications etc.
- Danish companies with niche technologies and expertise have offered to help India in meeting its air pollution control targets, including in the key area of tackling the problem of burning crop stubble.
- The Green Strategic Partnership is an agreement that can advance cooperation, enhance economic relations and green growth with a focus on implementing the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Frequently asked Questions about India, Denmark Relations
What was the Purulia Arms Drop case?
The arms were dropped from an Antonov An-26 aircraft before being intercepted by an Indian Air Force aircraft. Five Latvian citizens and Peter Bleach, a British citizen and an ex Special Air Service officer were arrested, while the organizer ‘Kim Davy’ alias Niels Christian managed to escape.
The Danish government’s decision to refuse his extradition, following a directive from the Danish High Court, put a strain on Indo-Danish relations in 2007.
What is the future of India-Denmark relations?
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