During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s official visit to Oslo, India and Norway upgraded their bilateral relationship by signing 12 agreements and launching initiatives that deepen cooperation across climate, clean energy, maritime, space, digital and scientific domains. Both countries agreed to elevate ties to a Green Strategic Partnership, signalling a shared focus on sustainable development, green industrial growth and the clean energy transition.
A jointly adopted statement prioritizes climate action, circular economy measures and the use of Norwegian technology together with India’s manufacturing scale. Norway also formally joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, strengthening collaboration on maritime security and support for a free, open and prosperous Indo-Pacific.
Key outcomes announced during the visit include:
– Participation and trade cooperation: India will have a dedicated India Pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2027 to expand cooperation in the blue economy, including shipbuilding, green shipping technologies and modern port infrastructure.
– Space cooperation: An agreement on peaceful exploration and use of outer space will boost institutional collaboration between space agencies and encourage greater investment and joint activity in the space sector.
– Digital partnership: Launch of the India-Norway Digital Development Partnership to promote digital public infrastructure, digital public goods and open digital ecosystems. The partnership aims to support India’s Digital India agenda and advance DPI-led transformations in Global South countries in collaboration with Norway.
– Health collaboration: A Joint Working Group will structure cooperation between medical and research institutions for joint projects, knowledge exchange and capacity building in health research.
– Infrastructure and geotechnical expertise: An agreement for specialized consultancy on tunnel construction, slope stability and related capacity building will provide geotechnical support for road and highway projects, including technical consultancy and safety audits.
– Technology and research cooperation: A pact to promote joint research in clean energy, climate action, healthcare and blue-economy technologies will encourage exchanges of scientists and experts.
– Scientific partnerships: CSIR (India) and SINTEF (Norway) agreed to collaborate on sustainable development solutions such as bio-based materials, ocean energy, carbon capture and circular-economy innovations. A project-specific implementation agreement will advance cooperation on ocean energy, targeting offshore wind and wave technologies for deep-water renewables.
– Academic mobility and green transition research: A Science, Technology and Innovation Cooperation agreement will foster mobility of students, researchers and faculty, and expand joint sustainability-focused research initiatives.
– Geosciences support for infrastructure: CSIR-NGRI, Hyderabad, and Emerald Geomodelling AS signed a partnership to provide advanced geoscientific support for large-scale infrastructure planning and development.
Together, the 12 outcomes reflect a broad strategic push toward green growth, innovation and deeper bilateral ties. Prime Minister Modi said the agreements will add strength to a partnership rooted in trust and shared aspirations and highlighted enhanced cooperation across space, digital, health and other future-oriented sectors.
The Oslo visit is the fourth leg of PM Modi’s five-nation tour, which included stops in the UAE, the Netherlands and Sweden and will conclude with Italy. Modi will also participate in the third India-Nordic Summit during his stay in the Nordic region.
