New Finnish Consulate to Launch in India This June
Finland to Open Honorary Consulate in Ahmedabad, Strengthening Ties with India
Finland is set to expand its diplomatic footprint in India by opening a new Honorary Consulate in Ahmedabad on June 9, 2025. This development marks a significant step in deepening Finland–India relations, particularly in the fields of education, innovation, sustainability, and digitalization.
Finnish Ambassador and Business Delegation to Attend Opening
To commemorate the inauguration, Ambassador Kimmo Lähdevirta and a high-level Finnish business delegation will travel to India next week. Their presence underlines the importance of Gujarat in Finland’s broader engagement strategy with India.
The Embassy of Finland in India emphasized that the new consulate reflects the mutual commitment of both nations to expand cooperation across key sectors.
“This marks an important milestone in Finland–India relations and underscores Finland’s growing commitment to deepening cooperation with India and Gujarat, with a focus on digitalization, education, sustainability, and innovation,” the Embassy stated.
Kulin Lalbhai Appointed as Honorary Consul
Kulin Lalbhai, a prominent Indian business leader, has been appointed as Honorary Consul of Finland in Ahmedabad. His role will be pivotal in strengthening bilateral business and cultural ties between Finland and western India.
Unlike embassies and consulates general, honorary consulates focus on basic consular functions such as:
- Assisting citizens in emergencies
- Supporting business and cultural exchanges
- Promoting bilateral cooperation
- Offering limited support for document or visa-related services
While the extent of visa-related services offered at the new consulate has not yet been detailed, it is expected to ease consular access for residents of Gujarat and nearby regions.
India Among Top Schengen Visa Applicants in 2024
India remains one of the largest sources of Schengen visa applications. In 2024, Indian nationals submitted 1,108,239 visa applications, ranking third globally.
- 936,748 visas were approved
- 165,266 applications were denied
- Rejection rate: Approximately 15%
Finland alone received 17,762 Schengen visa applications from Indian citizens, approving 13,878 of them.
Top Schengen Countries for Indian Visa Applicants in 2024
The countries that issued the highest number of Schengen visas to Indian applicants in 2024 were:
- Switzerland
- Applications: 217,373
- Visas issued: 191,162
- Rejections: 26,126
- France
- Applications: 197,959
- Visas issued: 165,564
- Germany
- Applications: 142,955
- Visas issued: 126,812
These numbers reflect the high demand for travel to Europe among Indian passport holders, especially for tourism, business, and educational purposes.
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