Think of Norway, think of fjords, the polar bear, and of course, salmon. The Scandinavian country is now turning to India for a business partnership, with each being a buyer of the unique products the other has to offer. The country is re-opening its Consulate-General in Mumbai after 42 years, even as it draws the shutters down several others across the world (Norway had a mission in Mumbai between 1857 and 1973). On a visit to Mumbai, Norway’s Foreign Minister Børge Brende spoke about the opportunities India and Norway could explore together. Excerpts:

What are the opportunities for Indian companies in Norway?

Large Indian IT companies have, during the last few years, established offices in Nordic countries; several have entered agreements with Norwegian companies. One example being TCS, which today has 500 consultants catering to Norwegian companies, with 200 of them being employed in Oslo. Indians currently receive over 20 per cent of the permits for skilled labour given to foreigners who want to work in Norway.

Which Norwegian businesses do you think can come to India?

India is the world’s fastest growing economy and the world’s largest democracy. It is a market with great potential for Norwegian businesses. This is why the Norwegian Government has decided to re-open the Norwegian consulate general in Mumbai. Over 90 Norwegian companies are present in India, and 60 are represented by agents within sectors such as maritime, energy, offshore and ICT, in particular telecommunications.

Norwegian companies employ 15,000 people in India and 3,500 Indian seafarers work on Norwegian-owned and controlled ships. Norwegian Pension Fund investments in India amounted to $8.5 billion by end of the 2014, about 1 per cent of the fund’s holdings.

The Norway Asia Business Summit was hosted in New Delhi in April. Around 200 business executives from Norway and the region attended. We see that as an indication of the interest businesses have in India in particular.

What are your views on India’s bid for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council?

Norway supports India’s longstanding claim for a permanent seat in a reformed UN Security Council. We share the view that the legitimacy of the Security Council depends, among other things, on its degree of global representation.

Could you give us an update on the agreements signed during the President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit last year?

Europe and North America have traditionally been our main partners in higher education and research. However, over the last decade we have started to seek new strategic partners in Asia.

We focus on establishing partnerships between the best of Norwegian and Indian research and higher education institutions, for the benefit of both parties.

What about energy security and the civil nuclear agreement with India?

Norway is a global leader in energy. Oil and gas are important sectors in the Norwegian economy, where we have cutting-edge expertise. At the same time, more than 90 per cent of our domestic energy consumption stems from renewable energy, primarily hydropower.

Norway wishes to share its expertise with India in order to help realise India’s huge economic growth potential. In India, Norwegian company Statkraft has made major investments in hydropower. Statkraft and many other organisations see India as an attractive growth market. This is a win-win situation.

Any plans to expand Norway’s seafood industry to India?

Norway’s export of seafood has reached new highs. So far this year, Norway has exported seafood worth $6 billion. This represents an increase of $420 million, or seven per cent, year-on-year. As the second largest exporter of seafood globally, Norwegian exporters cater to markets all over the world. Now, they are looking towards the promising and growing Indian market.

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