This article covers India's cooperation with Iceland in science, energy and fisheries, the cultural and academic links between the two countries, and the Indian community in Iceland. It is based on the MEA brief of May 2026. The brief is short, so these topics share one article.

Agreements on science, energy and fisheries

According to the MEA brief of May 2026, India and Iceland have signed:

  • an Agreement on S&T, in October 2005;
  • an MOU on cooperation in Earthquake Prediction Research, in April 2007;
  • an MOU on Sustainable Fisheries Development, in July 2007;
  • an MOU on Renewable Energy cooperation, in October 2007.

Joint mechanisms

The brief lists three sectoral mechanisms:

  • a Joint Sub-Committee Meeting on Renewable Energy
  • a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries
  • a Joint Task Force on Geothermal Energy Cooperation

Areas of cooperation

The brief identifies renewable energy, biotech and pharma, innovative technologies, fisheries and Arctic issues as areas for India-Iceland cooperation.

The Icelandic Foreign Ministers who visited New Delhi in April 2016 and December 2018 also met India's Minister for Tourism and Minister for New and Renewable Energy.

Ministerial visits on energy and environment

  • Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas, paid an official visit to Iceland on 11 July 2025.
  • Shri Kirti Vardhan Singh, MoS (External Affairs and Environment, Forest and Climate Change), paid an official visit to Iceland from 4-5 September 2025.

Cultural agreements and visits

A Cultural Agreement was signed in October 2005, and an MOU on Cultural Cooperation 2026-2030 was signed in February 2026.

Smt Meenakashi Lekhi, MoS (External Affairs and Culture), paid an official visit to Iceland on 19-20 August 2022. Mr. Logi Mar Einarsson, Iceland's Minister of Culture, Innovation and Higher Education, took part in the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi (19-20 February 2026) and interacted briefly with the Prime Minister on the sidelines.

Indian studies and awards

An MOU for an ICCR Chair of Indian Studies at the University of Iceland, Reykjavik, was signed in March 2021 and renewed in January 2025. The brief lists the Chair among the bilateral mechanisms between the two countries.

During his State Visit to India in January 2010, President Olafur Ragnar Grimsson received the 2007 Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding.

Interest in Indian culture

The brief states that Icelanders take a keen interest in Indian culture, especially yoga, classical music, dance, paintings, films and food. Several Icelanders attend the free yoga classes conducted by the Indian Embassy.

The Indian community

There are around 600 Indian nationals in Iceland, as of the brief.