Is Anurag Bhushan India's New Ambassador to Sweden?

New Delhi, May 15 (NationPress) The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced on Thursday that Anurag Bhushan, an officer from the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) of the 1995 batch, has been appointed as the upcoming Ambassador of India to Sweden. Bhushan currently serves as the Additional Secretary in the ministry and is anticipated to commence his duties soon.

In October of last year, the MEA revealed that Neena Malhotra, an IFS officer from the 1992 batch, was slated to be the next Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden. However, due to personal reasons, she was unable to take up the role.

Bhushan, who is the Additional Secretary in the Emigration Policy and Welfare (EP&W) division, co-chaired the recent India-Saudi Joint Committee Meeting on Labour Cooperation last month.

The relationship between India and Sweden is founded on mutual values, robust business ties, substantial investment, and collaborative Research and Development (R&D), along with shared strategies to address global challenges related to peace, security, and development.

Regular political communication, enhancing business connections, and cooperation on international issues underscore the strong partnership between India and Sweden. Innovations, technological advancements, investments, and R&D collaborations form the bedrock of this contemporary relationship, according to the ministry.

Since 2014, bilateral engagement has surged, with 11 visits and interactions at the Head of State/Head of Government level during this timeframe. There has been one interaction at the Prime Ministerial level and approximately 25 ministerial meetings scheduled for 2023-25, as detailed by the MEA.

The Indian Embassy promotes the annual India Sweden Innovation Day and supports initiatives like 'Engaging India' at Almedalen. Additionally, Sweden hosts the Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week in India, aimed at fostering business and academic ties, among other projects.

There is an estimated population of over 88,400 individuals of Indian origin in Sweden, which includes around 66,400 Indian nationals, primarily professionals in the IT sector. The nation is also home to a significant number of Indian researchers and students, with about 2,500 Indian students enrolled in Swedish institutions.

Thus far, around 22,000 Swedish citizens have been issued OCI cards. Various Indian Cultural Associations are active in Sweden, particularly in cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala, Lund, Malmo, Umea, Kiruna, Helsingborg, and Vasteras. A variety of Indian festivals are celebrated throughout Sweden.