India, Norway Strengthen Cooperation in Energy, AI, Arctic

• India-Norway talks focused on expanding cooperation in trade, energy, AI, and the blue and circular economy
• Post-TEPA implementation, both sides discussed boosting investments in green and blue technologies
• India-EFTA TEPA aims to bring USD 100 billion in investments and create one million jobs over 15 years

India and Norway conducted their 12th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Oslo recently, which examined ways to build partnerships between their countries in blue economy, circular economy, energy, artificial intelligence and multiple other fields.

The talks were led by Secretary (West) Sibi George and Secretary General Torgeir Larsen of Norway's Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The two parties evaluated all aspects of their existing diplomatic ties during the talks and decided to improve their partnerships in political matters, business activities, renewable energy, educational programs, scientific research, technological development, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and Arctic research. They shared their opinions about regional matters and worldwide concerns that both countries considered important.

In a post on X, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stated, “India-EFTA-TEPA will drive the India-Norway trade, technology and investment partnership. India considers Norway a valued partner in the Nordic region”.

MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reported that Secretary (West) met State Secretary Ragnhild Sjoner Syrstad from the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry for a successful meeting.

The discussions examined methods to strengthen economic connections between the two countries through the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) while creating investment opportunities in environmentally friendly technologies and blue technologies.

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The India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA) which Norway's Ambassador to India May-Elin Stener had previously supported brought her benefits for both international trade and India's current TEPA agreement with EFTA nations which includes Norway.

She stated, “Norway strongly supports an open and rules-based world trade order, and in that sense we see this as a very positive step. We already have a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement with India in the EFTA context, which entered into force in October last year. An EU-India agreement would be a very good complement to that”.

She explained that Norway would gain economic advantages from enhanced India-EU trade relations because these ties would improve commercial connections and supply chain networks during times of increasing worldwide trading conflicts.

“Europe is now clearly saying that India is important for us. Norway is a small country with a very open economy, and we have benefited greatly from free trade in our development. These are good developments in that direction”, May-Elin added.

The India-EFTA TEPA, signed on 10 March 2024 and effective from 1 October 2025, marks India’s first FTA with four developed European nations. The agreement intends to generate USD 100 billion in investments while creating one million direct employment opportunities in India for the next 15 years, which makes it one of the most ambitious trade partnerships in Indian economic history.