New Delhi | August 22, 2026 | INFRAINTEL Bureau
(The Economic Times)
India and Finland are seeking deeper business and technology partnerships in the circular economy as companies from both countries explore opportunities in resource efficiency, recycling, clean energy and sustainable production.
The discussions took place during the concluding day of the India Circular Economy Forum 2026, held in New Delhi on August 20 and 21 with a special focus on Finland.
The event served as a precursor to the World Circular Economy Forum 2026, which is scheduled to be held in Gandhinagar from September 15 to 18. It will be the first edition of the global forum hosted in South Asia.
The circular-economy model seeks to retain materials in productive use, reduce waste and pollution and regenerate natural systems. Its industrial application covers product design, supply chains, resource use, recycling, skills and new business models.
The New Delhi discussions were held under the theme ‘Harmonising Value Chains: The New India-EU Trade Era’ and focused on traceability, resource efficiency, resilient value chains and sustainable business practices.
Antti Herlevi, Counsellor for Trade and Investments at the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi, said the circular economy was an economic and industrial agenda in addition to an environmental one.
More than 100 Finnish companies are active in India across clean energy, waste management, recycling, digital solutions and sustainable design, according to Herlevi.
Companies from both countries participated in a business-to-business session aimed at developing investment, technology and commercial partnerships. Participants included Finnish firms Peikko, Nokia, Normet, Mirasys and Lamor, along with Indian companies Orbigreen Techsource, LoopM Alternatives, Re:Gen Collective and Syaahi Uniforms.
The 10th World Circular Economy Forum will be jointly organised by Finnish innovation fund Sitra and India’s Central Pollution Control Board, with support from the Union environment ministry, the Gujarat government and other partners.
India-Finland bilateral trade reached USD 3.70 billion in 2025-26, an increase of about 25 per cent over the previous year. Government data indicate that overall trade grew by around 38.5 per cent over five years.
The talks also took place against the background of the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement. Negotiations concluded on January 27, but the agreement remains subject to legal review and formal ratification and has not yet entered into force.
Circular-economy cooperation could connect Finnish technology and design capabilities with India’s manufacturing scale and rapidly expanding market. Commercial progress will depend on regulatory clarity, financing, local partnerships and the ability to demonstrate that sustainable production models are economically competitive.