Danish Envoy Highlights India-Denmark Water Cooperation, Backs EU-India Free Trade Agreement

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi – In a statement underscoring the growing depth of Indo-Danish ties, Ambassador of Denmark to India, Rasmus Abildgaard Kristensen, highlighted water management as a cornerstone of bilateral cooperation and emphasized Denmark’s support for a free trade agreement (FTA) between India and the European Union.

Speaking in the national capital, the ambassador pointed out that both India and Denmark are confronting a common threat: water scarcity. “The reason why water is such an important part of our cooperation is that it's a challenge that we both face. Because of climate change, both in Denmark and in India, we will increasingly experience water scarcity brought because of rising temperatures,” he noted.

He emphasized practical collaboration in reducing water leakage, a significant issue in urban and rural water distribution. “An important part of that is to prevent leakage from the pipes,” Kristensen said, pointing to Danish expertise in water conservation and smart water systems.

Another key focus, he said, is wastewater treatment. “India is currently investing a lot in wastewater treatment plants for good reasons—otherwise polluted water goes into the rivers,” he remarked. “I think the Indian government has been very good at formulating strong policies to prevent that.” Denmark, known globally for its advanced environmental technologies, is working with India to support these efforts.

Beyond environmental collaboration, the ambassador also expressed optimism about strengthening economic ties through an EU-India Free Trade Agreement. “Denmark is a member state of the EU, and like many EU countries, we think that a free trade agreement between Denmark and India would be of great benefit both to India and to the European Union,” he said.