Reestablished in 2012, the consulate collaborates with the Swedish embassy in New Delhi, Business Sweden, and the Swedish-Indian Chamber of Commerce to promote strategic industries such as energy, environmental technology, healthcare, and IT.
The district covered by the consulate includes Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, with a population of approximately 180 million people.
The chancery is located in the TCG Financial Centre in the Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai's central business district.
During the early years of the Age of Empire (1870s to mid-1880s), Sweden–Norway sought to expand its influence by increasing its consular presence in territories where major imperial powers were establishing colonial order.
Consuls were often appointed based on reputation and connections rather than qualifications, leading to a lack of necessary skills and knowledge about Sweden–Norway's economic interests.
Despite some successes in social and political integration, the consular service struggled with economic obstacles and ultimately failed to effectively support trade and shipping.
The firm traded in cotton, textiles, European imports, and Indian exports such as fish oil, coir, black pepper, and curry powder.
Gumpert, originally named August Carl, was naturalized in 1853 and served as consul not only for Sweden–Norway but also for Prussia, Oldenburg, Hamburg, Bremen, and later the North German Confederation.
Consul Riebe, a German-born British citizen representing Sweden-Norway, supported the donation because the hospital treated Europeans, including seamen.
The Swedish National Board of Trade and the Norwegian Ministry of the Interior (Departementet for det indre) acknowledged the limited Swedish-Norwegian shipping presence but agreed to Riebe's proposal, resulting in a donation of 20 guineas, equivalent to about £2,223 in 2020.
Gumpert praised Brandenburg as a person of esteemed social status, having been appointed to consular positions by both the German and Austrian-Hungarian governments.
The consulate general in London communicated to Stockholm that Brandenburg's firm lacked sufficient establishment to warrant his appointment.
Some authorities questioned Janni's reputation, but he received confirmation of his good standing, particularly from Ole Richter, the Swedish-Norwegian consul general in London.
Von Hoffer initially led in the Norwegian Ministry of the Interior's ranking, but Bildt was favored by Swedish trade committees.
Despite this, they acknowledged the importance of Bombay as a growing port city, especially for the export of cotton and opium, thanks to its strategic location near the Suez Canal.
During Hallenborg's tenure as Consul General in the Bombay Presidency, he was also responsible for Romanian, Japanese, Finnish, and Hungarian interests.
[27] The Swedish–Norwegian consulate in Bombay primarily aimed to support trade and shipping, promoting the interests of Swedish and Norwegian merchants and shipowners.
By establishing a consular presence, Sweden–Norway sought to gain political prestige and integrate into colonial networks, emulating the practices of larger imperial powers.
[28] The consulate engaged in activities such as facilitating imports of European products to India and exports of Indian commodities like cotton, fish oil, and spices to Europe.
Despite these efforts, the consular service faced significant economic challenges, and its impact on Swedish-Norwegian shipping and trade remained limited.
[29] The consular service struggled to effectively support trade and achieve its economic goals, reflecting the broader challenges faced by Sweden–Norway in establishing a significant presence in the global colonial order.
[5] The consulate in Bombay remained largely in the hands of foreign merchants, particularly those from the Swiss firm Volkart Brothers, throughout this period.
Together, they work to create connections and promote collaborations within various strategic industries, with particular emphasis on energy and environmental technology, healthcare, and IT.
[31][32] Since the consulate general was reestablished in 2012, the district has consisted of the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
[34][35] From 1948 to at least 1959, the honorary consulate was located in the Indian Mercantile Chambers on Nicol Road in Ballard Estate, which is situated in the financial district of Fort in South Mumbai.
[36][37] Today's chancery is located in the TCG Financial Centre in the Bandra Kurla Complex, the central business district of Mumbai.