India Ranks First Among 41 Markets in Swedish Global Business Climate Survey 2026

India has emerged as the highest-ranked market for business climate among 41 countries and regions covered by the Global Business Climate Survey 2026, according to official findings published by Business Sweden.

The survey captures the experience of Swedish companies operating across major international markets and compares their views on profitability, investment plans, business conditions and future growth. In the 2026 edition, India, Ireland and Vietnam were identified as the strongest-performing markets, with India taking the top position.

India Leads a Record 41-Market Survey

The 2026 Global Business Climate Survey covered 41 markets, the largest number since the survey began. Business Sweden said Swedish companies globally continued to show resilience despite geopolitical uncertainty and a cautious economic environment.

Across all surveyed markets, 64% of Swedish companies reported profitability, while 65% expected turnover to increase during the coming year. Another 44% planned to increase investments, indicating that Swedish companies remained willing to expand internationally despite a more difficult global operating environment.

India stood out within this broader picture because Swedish companies operating in the country reported comparatively strong business confidence, profitability and growth expectations.

More Than 200 Swedish Companies Contributed to India Survey

The separate India Business Climate Survey 2026 was based on responses from 213 Swedish companies operating in India.

Business Sweden said the results showed continued strong financial performance among Swedish companies in the country, with most respondents remaining profitable and a clear majority planning to increase investment over the coming year.

The survey also found that many of the participating companies had already operated in India for more than five years, indicating that the assessment was based largely on established businesses rather than only recent market entrants.

Swedish Companies See India as a Long-Term Growth Market

Business Sweden identified rapid industrialisation, digital transformation, infrastructure investment and the expansion of India’s middle class as important factors strengthening the country’s attractiveness to Swedish companies.

India is increasingly being viewed by Swedish businesses as a market not only for sales, but also for manufacturing, technology development, innovation and long-term investment.

The size of the domestic economy and continuing demand for industrial, digital and infrastructure solutions have made India a strategic market for companies seeking growth outside Europe.

Strong Financial Performance Supports Business Confidence

The survey indicates that Swedish companies in India continue to report healthy operating performance.

Most participating companies described their Indian operations as profitable, while a majority expected further expansion. This combination of profitability and investment intent helped India achieve the strongest overall business-climate assessment among the 41 markets examined in the global survey.

The results also suggest that companies already established in India are increasingly viewing the market as a core part of their international operations rather than as a secondary emerging-market presence.

Regulatory Complexity Remains a Concern

The survey does not present an entirely frictionless picture of operating in India.

Swedish companies continue to identify administrative complexity, regulatory unpredictability, trade barriers and localisation requirements as factors that can affect business planning and expansion.

These issues remain important even as companies maintain a positive overall assessment of the market. They are particularly relevant for businesses operating across multiple states or in sectors where licensing, import procedures and compliance requirements influence costs and investment decisions.

India’s Industrial Expansion Creates Opportunities

The business-climate assessment comes at a time when India is expanding manufacturing capacity across sectors such as automobiles, renewable energy, electronics, infrastructure, engineering and digital technologies.

Swedish companies have traditionally had a strong presence in industrial equipment, transport, telecom, engineering, sustainability technologies and manufacturing solutions, placing many of them in sectors aligned with India’s current investment priorities.

As India increases expenditure on infrastructure and advanced manufacturing, demand for industrial automation, energy efficiency, digital systems and sustainable production technologies is also creating new areas for Swedish participation.

Business Sweden Sees Continued Commitment to India

Business Sweden said Swedish companies in India remain strongly committed to the market for the long term, despite increasing geopolitical uncertainty globally.

The organisation’s 2026 assessment indicates that India combines high growth expectations with continued investment appetite, making it one of the most important expansion markets for Swedish companies in Asia.

The finding is particularly significant because it is based on the operating experience of companies already doing business in India rather than solely on macroeconomic projections.

India–Sweden Commercial Relationship Gains Further Momentum

India’s first-place ranking also provides a positive backdrop for the broader commercial relationship between India and Sweden.

Swedish companies have operated in India across manufacturing, engineering, automotive, telecommunications, healthcare, renewable energy and technology for decades. The latest survey suggests that these companies increasingly see further room for expansion rather than merely maintaining their existing presence.

Greater investment, local manufacturing and technology collaboration can deepen the commercial relationship as both countries focus on sustainable industry, digital transformation and advanced manufacturing.

A Strong Result With Scope for Further Reform

India’s position at the top of the 2026 survey reflects strong business confidence among Swedish companies already operating in the country.

At the same time, the concerns identified around regulatory complexity, trade barriers and administrative procedures show where further improvements could strengthen the operating environment.

The combination of strong growth expectations, profitability and continued investment plans places India in a favourable position among Swedish companies internationally, while also highlighting the importance of maintaining policy predictability and reducing procedural friction as the market continues to expand.

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References

Business Sweden — Global Business Climate Survey 2026, June 11, 2026.

Business Sweden — India Business Climate Survey 2026, June 3, 2026.

Business Sweden — Continued Confidence Despite Global Turbulence, June 11, 2026.

Swedish Chamber of Commerce India — Business Climate Survey resources and India market publications.

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