India and Sweden sign MoU to facilitate smart and sustainable aviation technology collaboration

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and LFV Air Navigation Services of Sweden (LUFTFARTSVERKET) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on August 25, 2022, at the AAI Office, Rajiv Gandhi Bhawan, New Delhi to facilitate partnerships that will drive smart, sustainable aviation technology innovation.

The agreement brings together air navigation actors from India, one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world, and Sweden, with demonstrated capabilities in building and implementing the next generation of sustainable aviation technology, and to explore smart aviation solutions. Acknowledging the pressing need for rapid development concerning next-generation smart airports and the necessity to build sustainable transport systems, both parties agreed within the MoU to:

• Exchange of aviation knowledge and technical transfer program
• Promote close and friendly relations between the two agencies
• Aim to expand technical cooperation in airports
• Support the development of a safe, secure, sustainable, and efficient aviation sector
• Positive contributions in promoting bilateral and international trade

– Innovating sustainably within the aviation sector is imperative. India and Sweden have the ambition, skills, and knowledge to be pivotal in the industry’s green transformation – shaping the future with collaboration to delivers smart airports and aviation technology that delivers economic growth and a greener future, says Jan Larsson, CEO, Business Sweden.

The MoU was signed between Mr M Suresh, Member (Air Navigation Services), AAI and Mr Magnus Corell, Deputy Director General, LFV Sweden.

The signing was attended by:

• Ms Malin Cederfeldt Östberg, State Secretary, Ministry of Infrastructure, Government of Sweden
• Ms Rubina Ali, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India
• E Klas Molin, the Ambassador of Sweden to India
• E. Tanmaya Lal, the Ambassador of India to Sweden, and
• Senior officials from AAI, LFV, Embassy of Sweden, New Delhi, and Business Sweden – The Swedish Trade & Invest Council

– We are looking forward to this addition to the already expansive India-Sweden collaboration, which already include sustainability, health, innovation, energy, and will now extend to civil aviation. I’m looking forward to seeing how the MoU can foster more opportunities for Sweden and India to explore climate-smart solutions within the aviation sector, says Klas Molin, Ambassador of Sweden to India.

– India Sweden partnership is on the upswing. This MoU covers one more new ground and will facilitate technology collaborations to improve safety, sustainability and efficiency in the aviation sector.  This is an important development also in the context of the booming regional air connectivity in India, says Tanmaya Lal, Ambassador of India to Sweden.

AAI and LFV, both Government agencies of India and Sweden respectively, will jointly collaborate on the following co-operation areas: 

1. Air traffic management
2. Air traffic control
3. Remote airport management and traffic control
4. Airspace design and planning
5. Airport design and infrastructure
6. Digitalised airport and aviation
7. Capability and training
8. Sustainable airports and aviation
9. Processes for pilots
10. Processes for scale-up

This MoU will pave the way for bilateral exchange of aviation expertise and technology between the two countries. It will allow the Indian companies to accelerate growth while leveraging Swedish innovation and expertise. Under the aegis of the MoU, the companies can collaborate in areas of mutual interest.

A Joint Working Group will be organised to prioritise interest areas and drive collaboration between the two countries. This MoU will play a crucial role in furthering government-to-government engagements between India and Sweden in the aviation sector in addition to other existing engagements such as sustainability, healthcare, innovation, energy, and infrastructure etc.

Photo Credit: @BusinessSweden