Mumbai, Oct 19 (IANS): Sweden will open a consulate-general in Mumbai by mid-2012, visiting Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said here Wednesday.

"India's importance for Sweden is growing, which is why there is cause to increase Swedish presence in the country's increasingly important market," he said.

"The opening of a Consulate-General in Mumbai is part of Sweden's increased efforts to build longterm and broad relations with India," Bildt announced.

Bildt said contacts between Sweden and India had increased and widened considerably in recent years, especially at the political, business, research and students levels.

He added that the promotion of Sweden will be a central part of the proposed consulate-general, which would have a significant role in developing a network of contacts with representatives of India's business sector and institutions.

Bildt arrived here Tuesday on a three-day visit, during which he will meet Indian officials as well as leaders of financial institutions.

During his stay in Mumbai, Bildt is scheduled to have meetings with officials of the Reserve Bank of India and the National Stock Exchange and leading Indian and Swedish companies.

In New Delhi, he will hold talks with his Indian counterpart S.M. Krishna, National Security Advisor Shiv Shankar Menon and Yashwant Sinha of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

He will also take part in the fifth edition of the embassy's annual Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week.