PM Modi arrives in Norway for India-Nordic Summit on fourth leg of five-nation tour
Oslo, May 18
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday arrived at Oslo, Norway, on the fourth leg of his five-nation tour. The visit, which marks the first time an Indian Prime Minister has travelled to the country in 43 years, is being viewed as a major strategic pivot toward Northern Europe.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre received PM Modi at Gardermoen Airport upon his arrival.
PM Modi is scheduled to participate in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit on May 19 and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Støre.
The visit comes at a crucial time for India-Nordic relations. Beyond the cultural bonding with the diaspora, the focus remains heavily on trade and economic synergy, particularly following the recently signed European Free Trade Association (EFTA) agreement.
PM Modi arrived in Norway after concluding his visit to Sweden, stating that the outcome of the visit adds "new momentum" to the relations between the two countries.
In a post on X, the Prime Minister highlighted key outcomes from his visit to Sweden, including the elevation of ties to a Strategic Partnership, the launch of Joint Innovation Partnership 2.0 and the India-Sweden Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor.
"My visit to Sweden was marked by several important outcomes that will add new momentum to India-Sweden relations," he said.
"From elevating our ties to a Strategic Partnership, launching the Joint Innovation Partnership 2.0 and the India-Sweden Technology and Artificial Intelligence Corridor, to setting an ambitious goal of doubling bilateral trade in the next five years, the discussions were highly productive," he added.
Meanwhile, members of the Indian diaspora in Oslo expressed enthusiasm over the Prime Minister's visit.
A member of the Indian diaspora in Oslo told ANI, "We are excited about the PM's visit to Norway. This is the first visit after 43 years. Not just the Indian diaspora but the whole of Norway is excited about this visit. After signing the EFTA deal, the industry in Norway is now excited about materialising it."
Another community member perfectly captured the electric atmosphere, stating, "Super excited! He is more than a rockstar! With this, the business relations between India and Norway will get better."
A third resident echoed the sentiment, noting the long-standing anticipation: "We can't define our excitement in words. We have been waiting for this moment for the past year."
The 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo is poised to further deepen India's geopolitical and economic footprint in the Nordic region.
— ANI
Reader Comments
First Indian PM in 43 years? That's shocking to me. I'm from Canada and we've had regular visits from Indian leaders. Why didn't any previous government think of Norway? Anyway, great that Modi ji is finally engaging with Nordic nations—hoping for real trade and tech collaborations, not just photo ops.
Honestly, I find these five-nation tours a bit exhausting. He is visiting Sweden, now Norway, next somewhere else? But the EFTA deal is genuinely good for Indian exporters—especially SMEs in textiles and pharmaceuticals. Hope the ground-level benefits trickle down fast. 🇮🇳
"He is more than a rockstar!" - That diaspora lady in Oslo said it best. Our PM genuinely commands respect abroad. But I hope the focus isn't just on big business deals. What about student exchange programs? Norway has excellent engineering and sustainability courses. More scholarships for Indians please! 🤞
Coming from the UK, I watch these India-EU developments with interest. The India-Nordic Summit is smart geopolitics—counterbalancing China's influence in the Arctic region and beyond. But I wonder: is India ready to match the Nordic standards on labor rights and environmental protocols that these deals often require? Something to watch.
The Artificial Intelligence Corridor with Sweden sounds exciting! India has so many software engineers and AI talent. But we often sign these MoUs and nothing substantial happens on ground. Let's hope this time the joint innovation partnership actually leads to real startups and jobs in both countries. Modi ji, keep the momentum going!
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