Norway-India relations

Ties between Norway and India have deep historical roots. As early as the 1600s, a Danish-Norwegian trading station was established in Tranquebar (Tharangambadi), which today lies in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. Norway’s first Consulates in India opened in Kolkata and Mumbai in 1845 and 1857, respectively. In 1952, the “India fund” was established” with the aim to provide development assistance with a focus on fisheries. The same year, Norway opened its Embassy in New Delhi.

In recent years, Norway has significantly strengthened its presence in India. The Consulate General in Mumbai re-opened its doors in 2015. It had been closed since the 1970s. It was joined by Innovation Norway, the Norwegian government’s official trade representative, which now has offices both in Mumbai and New Delhi. In 2019, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg inaugurated the newly constructed and energy-efficient Embassy complex in New Delhi.

India’s developments will have a significant impact on how successful the world is in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and global climate targets. Its geopolitical role, its large population, its long coastline and, not least its booming economy make India an increasingly influential regional and global player, and an important partner for Norway.

In December 2018, the Norwegian government launched a new ‘India Strategy’. The strategy sets clear priorities for the Norwegian government until 2030 and gives renewed impetus to develop our bilateral cooperation.

The India Strategy outlines five thematic priorities:

· Democracy and a rules-based world order

· The oceans

· Energy

· Climate and Environment

· Research, higher education and global health

To achieve these objectives, Norway focuses on political contact and cooperation between the authorities, business cooperation, and research cooperation.

Democracy and a rules-based world order

Norway and India both prioritise stability and predictability. Norway seeks to cooperate with India to strengthen the multilateral governance systems, the international trading system and the international legal order, not least regarding the oceans.

Norway is a strong advocate for finding regional solutions to regional challenges. At the same time, respect for human rights, gender equality, democracy and rule of law are vital for promoting sustainable development for all. Promoting women’s rights and efforts to prevent violence against women is key to this agenda. For instance, in the period 2015-2019, Norway supported capacity development and the integration of gender in the institutions of six Indian states, as well as initiatives to empower Indian women at the local level.

Cooperation in the areas of art, culture and sport can help promote common values such as democracy, freedom of expression, and sustainability. Norway and India have a culture cooperation exchange agreement, which is the basis of our government-to-government partnership in this field. India is an focus market for Norwegian art and culture.

The oceans

Norway and India are both ocean nations seeking to develop the vast economic, scientific and ecological potential of the oceans. In 2019, Norway and India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing a structured and strategic cooperation on the oceans. This cooperation is based on our shared interest in the blue economy and the sustainable use of marine resources, as well as a desire to advance scientific knowledge about our oceans. Striking the balance between production and protection is essential. Norway and India both emphasize the importance of the Law of the Sea and seek to strengthen the rules-based management of international maritime industries.

The signing of the MoU marked a watershed for Indo-Norwegian cooperation on the oceans and laid the foundation for a broad range of joint projects. Norway and India are for instance engaging on ways to ensure integrated ocean management through the development of ocean management plans, and have initiated large-scale projects to combat marine litter and plastic pollution. Norwegian companies and private institutions are increasingly seeking opportunities with Indian counterparts, particularly in the fields of shipping, fisheries, petroleum extraction and marine energy resources. India is an important market for Norwegian maritime industries.

Energy

The Indo-Norwegian cooperation on energy aims to develop energy sources that power economic growth, alleviate poverty, and foster peace and prosperity. Promoting access to clean and sustainable energy while combating climate change is a key concern for both countries. Norway is eager to work with India to achieve the Indian government’s ambitious targets for its transition to a green economy.

Cooperation between Norway and India on energy has been going on for many years and has resulted in numerous cooperative projects related to energy research, power generation and power transmission. Many of these have resulted in practical applications with significant impact. For instance, joint research projects have resulted in technology that can improve power grid safety while increasing grid carrying capacity by 25%. Other projects have contributed to improving oil recovery rates by 5% in hydrocarbon extraction operations. The Norwegian and Indian governments have over the past four years continued to jointly support research projects on low carbon efficiency growth, sustainability and clean energy.

Norway’s electricity generation is dominated by hydropower and renewable energy. As a country with extensive expertise in the fields of electricity production, grids and trading, Norway supports and increased private and public sector initiatives to develop the next generation of Indian power plants and grids. An increasing number of Norwegian companies and private sector organizations are engaging with Indian counterparts in projects to meet the growth in Indian energy demand. India is a growing export market for Norwegian energy companies.

Energy sources such as gas will become increasingly important during the transition to the green economy. The Indian government has set a target to double the proportion of gas in its energy mix by 2022. Norway, with its leading expertise and large fossil fuels reserves, seeks to work with India to secure energy supplies through trade and effective resource utilization.

Climate and Environment

Norway considers India a critical partner in addressing global climate, environment and resource challenges, and continuously seeks to increase cooperation in support of the Paris agreement and the SDG-agenda.

Norway wishes to work with India in its missions to protect its exceptionally rich biodiversity, as well as to increase resilience to climate change and reduce emissions.

Norway also considers India an important international partner in combating climate change through creating international consensus and developing global policies that reduce and mitigate climate change and environmental degradation. In recent years, numerous joint projects have been launched to combat climate change.

Indo-Norwegian cooperation addresses issues such as deforestation, plastic pollution, the oceans, CFC emissions reduction, waste management, river rejuvenation, energy efficiency, recycling, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. For example, recent joint projects have resulted in improved methods for calculating greenhouse gas emissions and the adoption of energy efficient refrigeration technologies.

Research, higher education and global health

Norway’s research cooperation with India has seen impressive growth in the last few years. With more than 100 ongoing joint projects, the research program with India is our largest in Asia.

In 2010, the Research Council of Norway established the Norwegian Program for Research Cooperation with India (INDNOR) to strengthen and promote cooperation between Norway and India on research and research funding. INDNOR is a key tool to follow up the bilateral research agreement and the Research Council’s roadmap for bilateral research cooperation. It includes cooperation under the EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation (Horizon 2020) and other joint European platforms in which Indian researchers take part. Environment, climate change and clean energy are three of the thematic priority areas in the program.

India is also one of six priority countries identified by Norway for cooperation on higher education and research in the Panorama strategy (Strategy for cooperation on higher education and research with Brazil, China, India, Japan, Russia and South Africa (2016–2020)). At the heart of this cooperation are thematic areas relating to the oceans, such as climate change, the environment, marine research, the maritime sector and polar research.

India is also a central theme in the Research Council of Norway’s domestic program on international relations, foreign policy and Norwegian interests (UTENRIKS) under the focus area ‘Asia in transition’.

Since 2006, Norway has collaborated with India on the development of innovative models for improving maternal and child health. This cooperation has produced good results that can be applied to other sectors. Norway will intensify its efforts to develop cooperation in other areas of global health, for example in the field of vaccine development.

Business cooperation

India and Norway enjoy a strong, longstanding relationship in business. Promoting Norwegian businesses and business cooperation is one of the overriding objectives of Norway’s engagement in India. In 2019, an agreement to establish an Indo-Norwegian Dialogue on Trade and Investments was signed between our two countries.

Norwegian investment interests in India are increasing, in particular in ocean related areas such as maritime industry, shipping, the marine sector, as well as oil and gas. Other areas of interest are clean energy, environment and ICT. As of 2019, more than 100 Norwegian companies have established themselves in India. Another 50 are represented by agents. The Norwegian Pension Fund Global is likely one of India’s largest single foreign investors. In 2019, its investments amounted to USD 9.5 billion. The volume is expected to increase.

The Norwegian Business Association (India) (NBAI) was established in 2013. It aims to promote bilateral relationships and promote business in general between India and Norway. Along with the Norway India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI), the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi and Innovation Norway, it is part of “Team Norway”, which aims to develop business ties between Norway and India.