New Delhi, February 18 (IANS). European country Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gehr Store has praised the pace of India’s reforms in his meeting with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and also said that he is eagerly waiting for the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi later this year.
In a meeting with the Finance Minister, Storr said that together Norway and India can strengthen partnerships in the fisheries, health tech, marine and space sectors. Along with this, he appreciated the contribution of the Indian community present in Norway.
According to a Finance Ministry statement, they also discussed the implementation of EFTA and TEPA and outlined key areas of cooperation between the two countries, including high-tech manufacturing, carbon capture storage, startups, semiconductors, renewable energy and waste management, among others.
Sitharaman met Trade and Industry Minister Cecily Masreth and State Secretary for Fisheries and Oceans Policy Ivan Tronstad Sagebakken in Oslo.
The two leaders discussed ways to establish deeper cooperation and explore mutual opportunities in areas such as green technology, rare earth processing, maritime and shipping industries and fisheries, in the context of the EFTA and TEPA agreements with India.
Masreth said that he and his team are eagerly waiting for Prime Minister Modi’s visit later this year.
Secretary Sagebakken also mentioned the important role played by India in Norway’s maritime industry.
The Finance Minister said that effective implementation of TEPA will lead to mutual benefits for both parties and expressed hope for its timely implementation.
Sitharaman also participated in a roundtable meeting with leading Norwegian CEOs and investors in Oslo and interacted with over 35 CEOs and top-tier participants from Norway’s business and investment community.
He said that during his official visit to Norway, fruitful and positive discussions were held regarding India as an attractive destination for investment and the fastest growing major economy in the world.
He said the Union Budget 2026-27 also underlines the Government of India’s reform focus on reducing the regulatory and compliance burden for citizens and companies.
–IANS
abs/
