Norway's PM Visit To India

• 09 Jan 2019

Recently, Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg visited India.

• Prime Minister Solberg delivered the inaugural address at the Raisina Dialogue and inaugurated the India-Norway Business Summit.

Outcome of visit

• A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on India-Norway Ocean Dialogue was signed and a joint task force for the blue economy was established.
• Both countries agreed to collaborate in achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) and to work together in tackling the threat of climate change.
• Both countries emphasized the need for the reform of the United Nations including the UN Security Council. Norway agreed that India is a strong candidate for a permanent seat in a reformed Security Council.
• Norway supported India's application for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers’ Group (NSG).
• Both countries agreed to urge countries for the early finalization of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT).

India-Norway Relations

• India and Norway have been enjoying a cordial and friendly relationship since the establishment of relations in 1947.
• The two countries respect each other for their commonly shared values such as democracy, human rights and rule of law. In recent years, both countries have been increased their engagements in the field of trade and technology.
• Norway has supported India’s membership to export control regimes the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), the Wassenaar Arrangement (WA) and the Australia Group (AG).
• Norway's Government Pension Fund Global has made a portfolio investment of about $12 billion in India.
• India has signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Norway in 1986 which was revised in February 2011.
• Norway is an expert on the subject of the Ocean Economy as 70% of Norway's export is from Norway's maritime industry. Starting of bilateral ocean dialogue have added a new dimension in India-Norway relations and will help India to understand the know-how of the maritime industry.
• Total bilateral trade between India and Norway stands around $1.1 billion in 2015-16.
• Around 100 Norwegian companies are engaged in India in areas such as shipbuilding, petroleum-related services, marine/sub-sea drilling equipment, hydropower, clean energy, and IT services.
• Indian companies like Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) and Reliance Industries have tie-ups with Norwegian companies in the petroleum and energy sector.
• Three Arctic Missions from India have so far visited Norway, in 2007, 2008 and 2009. India’s Polar Research Station “Himadri” is located at Ny Alesund, Spitsbergen Island, Norway.

Raisina Dialogue

• The Raisina Dialogue is a multilateral conference committed to addressing the most challenging issues facing the global community.
• The conference is hosted by the Observer Research Foundation in collaboration with the Government of India, Ministry of External Affairs.