Finland to Inaugurate New Consulate in India on June 9

Key Highlights

• Finland will inaugurate a new Honorary Consulate in Ahmedabad, India, on June 9.

• This development marks a significant step in strengthening Finland–India relations.

• Ambassador Kimmo Lähdevirta and a senior business delegation will visit India for the consulate’s opening.

Finland to Open Honorary Consulate in Ahmedabad on June 9

The Finnish authorities have announced the launch of a new Honorary Consulate in Ahmedabad, India, with the official opening scheduled for June 9. According to the Embassy of Finland in India, the new consulate is expected to play a vital role in deepening economic cooperation and fostering stronger ties between Finland and the Indian state of Gujarat.

Ambassador Kimmo Lähdevirta, accompanied by a high-level business delegation, will travel to India next week to attend the inauguration ceremony. The embassy emphasized that this initiative represents an important milestone in the bilateral relationship and reflects Finland’s growing engagement with India.

“This marks a significant step forward in Finland–India relations and demonstrates Finland’s commitment to enhancing cooperation in key areas such as digitalization, sustainability, innovation, and education,” the Embassy of Finland in India stated.

Additionally, the embassy announced the appointment of prominent business leader Kulin Lalbhai as the new Honorary Consul.

Unlike full embassies or consulates general, honorary consulates typically provide basic consular support. Their services often include helping citizens in emergencies, promoting trade and cultural ties, and assisting with limited administrative tasks. While it remains unclear whether the new consulate will offer visa-related services, it is expected to improve access to Finnish consular assistance in western India.

India Among Leading Schengen Visa Applicants in 2024

India remains one of the top countries for Schengen visa applications. Recent data from SchengenVisaInfo reveals that Indian nationals filed 1,108,239 visa applications in 2023, ranking third among all nationalities.

Of these, 936,748 were approved, while 165,266 were denied—resulting in a rejection rate of 15 percent.

In 2023, Finland received 17,762 Schengen visa applications from Indian citizens, approving 13,878 of them.

Other Schengen countries, such as Switzerland, France, and Germany, processed even larger volumes of Indian applications. Switzerland received the highest number—217,373 requests—granting 191,162 visas and rejecting 26,126. France followed with 197,959 applications and 165,564 approvals, while Germany processed 142,955 applications, approving 126,812.

These figures underline the continued interest of Indian citizens in visiting Europe, as well as the importance of enhancing consular infrastructure in India.