The first-ever India-Sweden Day and India-Sweden Mining Platform, jointly organised by the Embassy of Sweden, Business Sweden, Invest India, and industry association CII, was inaugurated and opened to battle climate change and promote sustainable development via innovation. The two sides focused on Automation & Digitisation in the Mining Sector and Sustainability in the Mining Sector – Challenges and Opportunities to discuss crucial elements in the mining sector. On the fringes of the Indo-Nordic summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Swedish counterpart Prime Minister Andersson, and the focus of the bilateral discussions was on sustainable mining as a possible industry for deepening cooperation. Klas Molin, Swedish Ambassador to India, Emil Högberg, State Secretary to the Swedish Minister for Business, Industry and Innovation, Dr Veena Kumari, Joint Secretary – Ministry of Mines, and Ms Cecilia Oskarsson, Swedish Trade & Investment Commissioner. Several executives from Swedish mining firms currently operating in India, including Sandvik, Epiroc, Volvo, ABB, and SKF, as well as Indian corporations such as Tata Steel, Hindustan Zinc, and others, were in attendance. Swedish Ambassador told the media that sustainability and Innovation lay at the core of their bilateral partnership. He said this reaffirms both nations' shared commitment to combat climate change and promote sustainable development via innovation. He added that the India-Sweden Mining Platform was launched today for a greener, cleaner future of mining and that both Sweden and India are among the world's top mining nations. By exchanging best practices and solutions, both parties may benefit, particularly in the areas of digitalisation, sustainability, and automation. Emil Hogberg highlighted the reality that the globe is transitioning away from fossil-fuel-based energy solutions. He said countries are increasingly transitioning to new fossil-free, mineral or metal-based alternatives. A declared goal of the National Mineral Policy of 2019 is to establish a sustainable Indian mining economy. Sustainable mining practices are becoming increasingly more crucial as a result of efforts like Make in India and investments in renewable energy, rural electrification, and smart cities. The European country is trying to become the world's first fossil-free welfare state, with plans to achieve net-zero emissions in 25 years by 2045, and to become a fossil-free country, greater electrification, automation, and digitalisation will be required, resulting in increased efficiency and lower emissions. Sweden, as one of Europe's top mining countries, is expected to produce 93% of all iron ore, 11% of all copper, 34% of all zinc, 33% of all lead, and 19% of all gold in 2020 inside the EU. Image Source Also read: India yet to submit climate action plan to cut greenhouse emissions