Deputy Ambassador of Norway to India Arvinn Gadgil said Norway and India have a strong opportunity to deepen cooperation on pollution control, marine litter reduction and youth employment through a growing plastic recycling economy. He described the India‑Norway Marine Pollution Initiative as a key platform to combine Norwegian technical expertise with India’s long coastline and private‑sector innovation.
Consul General Monica Nagelgaard noted the forum highlighted how both countries can learn from each other’s approaches. Indian environmentalist and lawyer Afroz Shah stressed that tackling plastic pollution requires community involvement and public participation, and argued the two nations can exchange lessons—Norway adopting aspects of India’s circular economy solutions while India benefits from Norway’s practices.
The India‑Norway Marine Pollution and Plastic Waste Forum, held in Mumbai on December 2–3, brought together government and industry representatives, experts and activists to discuss innovative collaborations and the main challenges ahead. The Maharashtra Pollution Control Board said the forum’s second annual meeting on “Circular Economy Approaches” featured Siddhesh Kadam, MPCB Chairman, as chief guest. Kadam addressed the pollution crisis, the scale of marine pollution and the employment potential within the plastic recycling sector.
Launched in 2019 under the bilateral India–Norway agreement on oceans and the Blue Economy, the India‑Norway Marine Pollution Initiative aims to spur strategic partnerships to reduce marine litter and other pollutants and to advance sustainable waste management, with a strong focus on plastics.
