Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Norway on May 18, marking a milestone as the first standalone bilateral visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Nordic nation in 43 years. This visit underscores India’s commitment to enhancing its strategic and economic ties with Norway while participating in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit in Oslo.

According to officials from the Ministry of External Affairs, the visit is being undertaken at the invitation of Norway’s Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. The official discussions will also involve an audience with King Harald V and Queen Sonja.

Modi and Støre are scheduled to co-chair the India-Norway Business and Research Summit, where key areas of discussion are expected to include trade, technological collaboration, investment flows, and the implementation of the India-European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA).

Strengthening Trade and Investment Relations

The India-EFTA TEPA, which came into effect on October 1, 2025, represents India’s first free trade agreement with developed European countries. This agreement aims to secure $100 billion in investments and create one million direct jobs over a span of 15 years.

As part of its strategy, India has established a dedicated EFTA Desk under Invest India to expedite projects and investments related to this agreement. Bilateral merchandise trade between India and Norway reached approximately $1 billion in 2024-25, with Indian service exports to Norway amounting to $876 million in 2024.

Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global, recognised as the largest sovereign wealth fund globally, has invested close to $30 billion in Indian capital markets. Officials stated that alongside foreign direct investment, Norway’s investment via its government fund has reached approximately $28 billion, with intentions to increase further investments in India.

Collaborative Efforts in Maritime, Space, and Arctic Research

The visit also highlights enhanced cooperation in maritime security, Arctic research, and advanced technology. Indian shipyards are set to build eco-friendly vessels for Norway, while Norwegian firms have recently engaged with Gujarat’s Pipavav shipyard for new projects.

In June 2025, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers and Norway’s Kongsberg Maritime to co-design India’s first indigenous Polar Research Vessel. Notably, ISRO’s antennas at Svalbard became operational in 2026, reinforcing India’s research capabilities in the Arctic.

India’s Himadri research station at Ny-Ålesund has hosted over 400 scientists since its inception in 2008, with winter deployments commencing in 2023. Moreover, Norwegian tunnelling technology is being applied to the Char Dham railway project, which is strategically significant for India.

The discussions during this visit are expected to advance cooperation in offshore wind, clean energy, battery technology, and scientific expeditions in the Arctic region.

Focus on the India-Nordic Summit

On May 19, Prime Minister Modi will attend the 3rd India-Nordic Summit along with the Prime Ministers of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden. This summit highlights the growing economic ties between India and Nordic countries, which amounted to $19 billion in trade in goods and services in 2024.

The summit series, initiated in Stockholm in 2018 and followed by Copenhagen in 2022, is a platform to discuss investment in key sectors such as green hydrogen, artificial intelligence, and climate finance. The Nordic nations offer unique sectoral strengths, including Norway’s expertise in the blue economy and Arctic affairs.

Additionally, the possibility of establishing a dedicated India-Nordic Arctic cooperation mechanism will be on the agenda, given that all five Nordic countries are part of the Arctic Council. The visit also aims to enhance people-to-people links, particularly in mobility and talent partnerships.

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