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FM Sitharaman in Norway for Key Talks on Trade, Climate & Innovation

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has arrived in Oslo for a two-day official visit aimed at bolstering bilateral cooperation. Her agenda includes meetings with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg, and Trade Minister Cecilie Myrseth. The visit will also feature engagements with startups at Oslo Science Park and a roundtable with Norwegian investors and CEOs. This trip follows her participation in the Munich Security Conference, where she highlighted India's increased climate spending.

Key Points: Sitharaman Visits Norway for Bilateral Talks, Climate Focus

  • Strengthen India-Norway economic ties
  • Discuss climate finance & action
  • Engage with startups & investors
  • Connect with Indian diaspora community
3 min read

FM Sitharaman in Norway for two-day visit, to meet Norwegian PM; hold talks with finance and trade ministers

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets Norwegian PM, holds talks on economic cooperation, climate finance, and startup innovation during Oslo visit.

"India has increased its commitment to climate action... today, we are somewhere close to 5.6 per cent of GDP. - Nirmala Sitharaman"

Oslo, February 16

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman arrived in Norway on Monday for a two-day official visit, during which she is scheduled to meet top Norwegian leadership, hold bilateral discussions, and engage with business leaders, investors, and the Indian diaspora.

In a post on X, Ministry of Finance said that Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman was welcomed upon arrival at Oslo Airport by Gloria Gangte, Ambassador of India to Norway.

Ministry stated "Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt.@nsitharamanis welcomed upon arrival by Ms.@GloriaGangte, Ambassador of India to Norway @IndiainNorway, at the Oslo Airport, Norway, today".

The ministry also informed that during her visit to Oslo, Sitharaman will call on Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and hold bilateral meetings with Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister for Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth.

These engagements aim to strengthen economic and financial cooperation between India and Norway.

The finance minister is also scheduled to visit the Oslo Science Park to meet with start-ups. The visit is expected to provide an opportunity to exchange views on innovation, entrepreneurship, and emerging technologies.

In addition, Sitharaman will hold a roundtable discussion with Norwegian CEOs and investors to strengthen business and investment ties between the two countries. She will also engage with members of the Indian diaspora at a community event during her stay.

Sitharaman's visit to Norway follows her trip to Munich, Germany, where she attended the Munich Security Conference 2026.

During the conference, she spoke at the 'Degrees of Instability: Climate Security in a Warming World' town hall and highlighted India's increasing financial commitment towards climate action.

She stated that India has significantly increased its spending on climate action, with expenditure rising from 3.7 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) six years ago to nearly 5.6 per cent today.

She emphasised that India is proactively investing its own resources to meet environmental goals and is not merely waiting for international assistance.

"India has increased its commitment to climate action. We were at something like 3.7 per cent of our GDP six years ago... but today, we are somewhere close to 5.6 per cent. So more than doubled in a matter of six years," Sitharaman said during the townhall discussion.

Apart from attending the conference, Sitharaman also held meetings with several key dignitaries, including Christine Lagarde, President of the European Central Bank (ECB), in Munich.

The ongoing visit to Norway is expected to deepen India's engagement with European partners, particularly in finance, trade, innovation, and climate cooperation.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Meeting with startups at Oslo Science Park is a brilliant move. We need to learn from their innovation ecosystem and bring that knowledge back to our own tech hubs in Bengaluru and Hyderabad. Hope this leads to more joint ventures and investment flows.
R
Rohit P
While international diplomacy is important, I hope the discussions also focus on tangible outcomes for the common Indian. More FDI is good, but it should translate into jobs and better infrastructure here, not just numbers in a report.
S
Sarah B
The stat about India increasing climate spending to 5.6% of GDP is impressive and needs more spotlight. We often get criticized, but this shows serious commitment. Engaging with European partners like Norway can help access new green financing models.
V
Vikram M
Connecting with the Indian diaspora is key. They are our brand ambassadors abroad and can facilitate deeper business and cultural ties. Hope the community event is fruitful. Jai Hind!
K
Karthik V
Norway's sovereign wealth fund is one of the world's largest. If even a small fraction of that investment can be directed towards Indian infrastructure and renewable energy projects, it would be a game-changer. Fingers crossed for the talks with the Finance Minister.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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