PM Modi held talks with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store on Monday, May 18, focusing on trade and investment, green technology, the blue economy, and other key areas.
As reported by news agency PTI, PM Modi arrived in Oslo on a two-day visit from Sweden. The Indian Prime Minister, upon his arrival, was earlier received at the airport by PM Store and other top leaders of the Scandinavian country.
This is PM Modi`s maiden visit to Norway, which marks the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the country in 43 years.
PM Modi and Norwegian PM to jointly participate in Nordic-Indian Summit
Prime Ministers Modi and Store will jointly participate in the third Nordic-Indian Summit in Oslo on May 19, which brings together India and the Nordic countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden and Norway.
This will build upon the two previous summits held in Stockholm in April 2018 and in Copenhagen in May 2022 and is expected to impart a more strategic dimension to India`s relationship with the Nordic countries.
Modi will call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja. He will also address the India-Norway Business and Research Summit along with the Norwegian Prime Minister.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Monday also issued an official statement highlighting that PM Modi will review the progress made in India-Norway relations and explore avenues to further strengthen them, with a focus on trade and investment, as per PTI.
MEA asserted, “The visit will provide an opportunity to review the progress made in India-Norway relations and explore avenues to further strengthen them, with a focus on trade and investment, capitalising on the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, as well as on clean and green tech and blue economy,” as cited by PTI.
European Free Trade Association (EFTA) nations include Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland
Ahead of PM Modi’s arrival in Norway, PM Store said, “India is the world`s largest democracy and the world`s most populous country. India plays a central role in climate, technology, trade and international security.”
He also added, “This visit underlines the importance of cooperation with India, Norway and the Nordic countries in these times of global instability. We stand together in promoting international cooperation and a rules-based world order.”
(With inputs from PTI)