1. Denmark-India – A new mutually beneficial partnership

The Government’s Asia Strategy states that future-proofing our welfare requires that Denmark does well in globalisation. Denmark must adapt to Asia’s role as the locomotive of globalisation and be better at utilising the opportunities provided by growth and development in Asia.

In order to implement the Asia strategy, the Government has decided to draw up programmes of action regarding India and China with a view to strengthening cooperation with these countries concerning political, economic, environmental, energy and climate, and cultural issues. While the programme of action regarding India indicates priorities for efforts in relation to the country, it does not in itself trigger new funds.

India is undergoing rapid and dramatic change. Denmark has a great economic and political interest in strengthening its partnership with India to contribute to and benefit from this development. A new partnership is to be based on reciprocity and equality.

The Danish presence in India must be significant – also on the part of the private sector – because Denmark is only genuinely interesting to India if we are present with a sufficient critical mass of visible competences that are in demand in India, and have a contact network that enables Denmark to continuously pick up economic and political opportunities and challenges. In 2007 the Ministry of Foreign Affairs strengthened the Danish political and trade presence in India with new staff at the Embassy. The enhanced involvement is necessary to be able to represent the increasing Danish interests that follow on India’s growing importance for Denmark.

Developing bilateral relations is decisive to ensure Danish interests. However, Denmark will also handle some of its interests in India through the EU. The overall strength of the EU and its ability to combine political, economic and commercial instruments provides a firm platform for handling Denmark’s interests vis-à-vis India. The implementation of the Treaty of Lisbon will make the EU an even stronger foreign policy actor. Enhanced bilateral Danish partnership with India and a significant presence in the country are preconditions for increased Danish influence on the formulation of EU foreign policy on India and for representing specific Danish interests.

Denmark must be an active partner and a constructive actor in India’s process of growth and change. The aim is twofold: Denmark must be a co-actor in India’s economic growth to the benefit of both countries, and Denmark is also to be a political partner for India in the work of furthering global security, stability, climate, democracy and human rights.