PM Modi holds bilateral meeting with Iceland's PM Frostadottir ahead of India-Nordic Summit
Oslo, May 19
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday held a bilateral meeting with Iceland's Prime Minister Kristrun Mjoll Frostadottir ahead of the third India-Nordic Summit.
PM Modi is set to join the third India-Nordic Summit in the capital, convening with the prime ministers of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden.
The high-level conference is designed to solidify New Delhi's geopolitical alignment with the Nordic bloc, building upon the foundational frameworks established during previous iterations in Stockholm in 2018 and Copenhagen in 2022.
Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that India and Norway have elevated their bilateral ties to a "green strategic partnership" following talks with the Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre in Oslo.
In a post on X, PM Modi emphasised the discussions as "fruitful conversations" and highlighted cooperation in clean and sustainable sectors as a major outcome of the meeting.
"One of the most important highlights was the upgrading of our bilateral partnership to a green strategic partnership, which will strengthen cooperation within clean energy, sustainable growth, the blue economy and green shipping, as well as several other areas," PM Modi said.
The Prime Minister added that both sides also explored ways to deepen collaboration in "innovation, research, education, health services and skills development".
PM Modi further welcomed Norway's decision to join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, saying, "It is gratifying to see Norway join the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative."
On Monday, India and Norway marked a significant upgrade in bilateral ties with the signing of 12 agreements and initiatives during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's official visit to the Nordic country, signalling a broad expansion of cooperation across climate, technology, maritime, and scientific domains.
The visit marked a major upgrade in India-Norway relations, with both sides agreeing to elevate the partnership to a Green Strategic Partnership, underscoring a shared commitment to sustainable development, clean energy transition, and green industrial growth.
A Joint Statement was adopted in this regard, focusing on climate action, circular economy initiatives, and leveraging Norwegian technological expertise alongside India's scale and manufacturing strengths, as per a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Among the major outcomes, Norway formally joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, strengthening cooperation on maritime security and reaffirming support for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.
India will also participate in Nor-Shipping 2027 with a dedicated India Pavilion, aimed at expanding cooperation in the blue economy, including shipbuilding, green shipping technologies, and modern port infrastructure.
In the domain of space cooperation, both countries signed an agreement on the peaceful exploration and use of outer space, enabling enhanced institutional collaboration between space agencies and encouraging greater investment in the sector.
A key highlight of the visit was the launch of the India-Norway Digital Development Partnership, which will promote cooperation on digital public infrastructure, digital public goods, and open digital ecosystems. The partnership is expected to support India's Digital India mission and facilitate DPI-led transformation in Global South countries in collaboration with Norway.
These came as part of Prime Minister Modi's five-nation tour, which also included the Nordic country.
PM Modi is in Norway in the fourth leg of his five-nation visit. He reached Oslo after visiting the UAE, the Netherlands and Sweden.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm happy about the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative getting Norway on board. Maritime security is crucial for us given our coastline and trade routes. Hope this translates into real cooperation, not just talks.
Impressive number of agreements - 12! The digital development partnership is particularly interesting. India's DPI (digital public infrastructure) model has proven successful domestically, so exporting it with Nordic support could be a game-changer for Global South nations. 🌍
All this diplomacy is fine but let's not forget domestic priorities. While PM is jet-setting across Nordic countries, our farmers are still struggling and inflation is biting hard. Hope these 'green partnerships' eventually deliver jobs and growth for common Indians.
Norway joining Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative is big! 🌊 This shows how India is becoming a key player in the region. Unlike some noisy neighbours, we're building genuine partnerships based on mutual respect and shared interests. #IndiaRising
The space cooperation agreement caught my eye! 🚀 With ISRO already doing amazing work, collaborating with Norway on peaceful space exploration could open new frontiers. Also good that India will have a pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2027 - our shipbuilding sector needs global exposure.
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