Key focus on clean energy, climate, and shipping
New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks on Monday with Norway’s PM Jonas Gahr Store in Oslo, after which the two nations announced a “Green Strategic Partnership” in the areas of clean energy, climate resilience, blue economy and green shipping. Later, at a special ceremony hosted in Oslo, Norway’s King Herald V conferred the “Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of Merit” award on Modi. The award is Norway’s highest honour bestowed on foreign heads of government, and is “conferred in recognition of the outstanding service in the interest of Norway and humankind”. This comes ahead of the third India-Nordic Summit on Tuesday in Oslo that will be attended by Modi along with the leaders of the five Nordic nations -- Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland -- that “will impart a more strategic dimension to India’s relationship with the Nordic countries”.
On Monday while welcoming greater investments by Norwegian enterprises in India, the two Prime Ministers, after their talks, also underlined the aim of doubling the value of current trade between India and Norway by 2030. In his media remarks, Modi pointed out that India had earlier inked the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) with the member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) that comprise the four nations of Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein, which he described as the “blueprint for shared progress and prosperity”. TEPA has been implemented from October last year. Modi noted that the pact creates an investment pathway of $100 billion over 15 years and will result in the creation of one million jobs. It must be noted that while Norway is a European, Nordic and Scandinavian nation, it is not part of the 27-nation European Union (EU).
Pointing out that India and Norway are entering a “golden chapter” in their ties, Modi said the two nations would work together in the fields of ocean energy, geology, health engineering, artificial intelligence, cyber and digital sectors, which would be part of the research and innovation bilateral cooperation that he termed an important “pillar” in ties. “They noted potential in defence cooperation and defence industrial collaboration, agreed to explore third-country cooperation in digital public goods, and tasked ministries to establish a Joint Working Group on Digitalisation to drive the digital transition,” New Delhi said.
Modi also welcomed Norway’s decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and pledged closer cooperation in maritime security and strengthening the marine economy. Emphasising cooperation in the spheres of skill development and talent mobility, the Prime Minister thanked Norway for its role in India operationalising its Himadri station n the Arctic as part of polar research. Both nations also decided to strengthen space cooperation. A triangular Development Cooperation Agreement for cooperation in the Global South nations was also agreed upon. The two nations also signed several pacts, including one on health, to provide high-technology quality health services.
In his remarks, the Norwegian PM described India as a global “leading force in technology and innovation” and said the Green Strategic Partnership will be vital for a Green Transition. On global issues, he admitted that the two nations “do not always see eye to eye”, but added that “cooperation delivers better results”. He called on both nations to “stand up to those who weaponise trade and technology”, seen as a veiled reference to the United States under the Trump administration. Gahr Store also emphasised the importance of following a rules-based order especially in the context of the conflicts in Ukraine and West Asia.
In his media remarks, Modi thanked Norway for its support to India last year on the issue of fighting terrorism. He recalled how he was supposed to visit the Scandinavian nation last year but could not in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. The two leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine and West Asia, following which Modi said that the resolution can only take place through dialogue and diplomacy. Pointing out that military options cannot lead to solutions, he said India is ready to make any contribution for peace.
