Bilateral Talks in Reykjavik Signal Deepening India‑Iceland Cooperation

New Delhi, October 7 – The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that State Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh will engage in a series of bilateral meetings with Iceland’s Foreign Minister during the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik from October 8‑10.

The talks are expected to build on the momentum generated by the recently signed India‑EFTA TEPA agreement, which opened new avenues for trade and investment between the two nations. Areas of particular interest include geothermal energy projects, aquaculture development, and joint clean‑energy research.

Singh will also lead India’s participation in the ACA plenary “Melting Poles: Perspectives from India and Singapore” and will open the session “Arctic and Climate Change Perspectives from Observer States”. Both forums will allow India to articulate its Arctic Policy, anchored on six pillars – science, climate & environment, economic development, connectivity, governance and capacity building.

The Arctic Circle Assembly, hosted every October at Reykjavik’s Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Centre, brings together over 70 countries and up to 2,500 delegates. It serves as a key platform for non‑Arctic states like India to discuss polar research, climate action and sustainable development with the Arctic community.

By strengthening diplomatic ties with Iceland, New Delhi aims to enhance its Arctic outreach, especially in research collaborations and technology transfer related to the polar environment.