To map the contours of this historic visit, Firstpost caught up with the Norwegian Ambassador to India, Her Excellency May-Elin Stener, for an exclusive, wide-ranging interaction.<\/p>\n
HE May-Elin Stener is currently the Ambassador of Norway to India, Sri Lanka, Bhutan and the Maldives. Image\/Firstpost via Royal Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi<\/p>\n
With Firstpost, Stener broke down the mechanics of the \u201cNordic pivot,\u201d clarified the structural nuances of the blockbuster $100 billion EFTA-TEPA trade pact, and explained how Europe views India\u2019s unique position as a diplomatic bridge between the Global South and the West.<\/p>\n
The historic 43-Year interregnum & the \u201cNordic pivot\u201d<\/p>\n
For decades, India\u2019s continental European strategies focused predominantly on traditional heavyweights like Paris, Berlin, and Moscow. However, New Delhi steadily realised the importance of pivoting towards the high north of the continent.<\/p>\n
The five Nordic nations boast a combined GDP exceeding $1.9 trillion, and they lead global benchmarks in green hydrogen, maritime innovation, deep-tech, sustainable ocean governance, and geo-thermal energy.<\/p>\n
When asked about the significance of ending this 43-year diplomatic hiatus and how Oslo perceives India\u2019s structural role in the evolving European security and economic architecture, Stener spotlighted the historic gravity of the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last visit by an Indian Prime Minister was in 1983, so this visit by Prime Minister Modi is truly historic. We warmly welcome him to Norway on 18 May and look forward to many positive outcomes and strengthened Norway-India relations.\u201d<\/p>\n
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n
The India-Nordic summit process began in Stockholm in 2018 and continued in Copenhagen in 2022. The United States is the only other country that maintains an equivalent summit-level framework with Nordic nations.<\/p>\n
The 3rd edition of the summit was originally planned for last year but was postponed following\u00a0 Despite the delay, the momentum behind this institutional framework has only grown. The summit format provides a unique multilateral venue where a highly advanced regional bloc interfaces directly with the world\u2019s fastest-growing major economy.<\/p>\n Commenting on the evolution of this mechanism, Stener observed, \u201cIt is an important forum for us to discuss topics of global relevance and allows us to explore how the Nordic countries can support and be part of India\u2019s growth story. From Norway\u2019s perspective, the agenda is focused on strengthening partnerships in green transition, including renewable energy, maritime and climate solutions. We also see strong potential in expanding collaboration in digital innovation, including health tech, and the Blue Economy.\u201d<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n This synergy is no longer merely transactional. As supply chain resilience and democratic values take the stage globally, the European continent is actively looking eastward for anchor partnerships.<\/p>\n Stener contextualised India\u2019s growing systemic weight in European calculations.<\/p>\n \u201cNorway sees India as an increasingly important geopolitical and economic partner in a changing global order, especially as Europe seeks reliable partnerships beyond its immediate neighbourhood. India\u2019s scale, democratic institutions, technological expertise and growing international influence make it a significant partner for the Nordic region and Europe,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n EFTA-TEPA vs Sovereign wealth investments<\/p>\n One pillar of this renewed relationship is the landmark Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), signed between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) bloc \u2014 which comprises Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, and Liechtenstein.<\/p>\n The agreement contains a historic, legally binding commitment to channel $100 billion in foreign direct investment into India over a 15-year horizon, projected to generate over one million jobs.<\/p>\n #DidYouKNow<\/a> #IndiaNordicSummit<\/a> \u2014 Ambassador May-Elin Stener (@NorwayAmbIndia) May 13, 2026<\/a>STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n However, widespread speculation has emerged regarding how this $100 billion commitment interfaces with Norway\u2019s famed Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG) \u2014 the world\u2019s largest sovereign wealth fund, which manages over $1.6 trillion in assets.<\/p>\n Observers have wondered whether Oslo would leverage the fund to meet these targets, particularly by diversifying into India\u2019s rapidly expanding Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and green energy grids.<\/p>\n Stener provided clarification on this point, delineating private capital from sovereign investments, stating, that \u201cthe investment chapter of the TEPA relates to foreign direct investment, meaning investment by private-sector companies, many of which are seeing opportunities in the Indian market.\u201d<\/p>\n Nevertheless, the Ambassador highlighted the massive, standalone confidence that Norway\u2019s public sovereign wealth fund has in the Indian economic story.<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n \u201cThe Norwegian Government Pension Fund Global is one of the largest sovereign wealth fund investors in India. It invests only in publicly listed companies, across almost all sectors. The value of its investments in the Indian stock market is currently at USD 30.8 billion (divided among 495 investments),\u201d she observed.<\/p>\n \u201cThe investments have more than doubled in value since 2020, testifying to the Fund\u2019s expectations of solid, long-term growth in the Indian economy. But these investments are not counted as part of the commitment under TEPA.\u201d<\/p>\n This distinction reveals a two-pronged economic relationship: while Norway\u2019s public fund holds a substantial $30.8 billion position in India\u2019s capital markets, the TEPA framework acts as an independent pipeline designed to draw in private Norwegian capital into Greenfield projects, manufacturing units, and technology joint ventures.<\/p>\n The \u201cGreen Strategic Partnership\u201d<\/p>\n As Modi navigates his third term as prime minister and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr St\u00f8re navigates a volatile European landscape, the qualitative nature of the relationship has transformed.<\/p>\n When asked to characterise this \u201cnew chemistry,\u201d Stener chose two precise terms to define the contemporary era of Oslo-New Delhi engagement, opining, \u201cLet me use two words to define the Oslo-Delhi relationship today: strategic and future-oriented.<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD<\/p>\n India and Norway have worked closely in sectors such as shipping, fisheries, health and multilateral affairs.<\/p>\n While these traditional areas are extremely important, the partnership is now expanding into newer domains, including green transition, digital technologies, maritime innovation, Arctic research, clean energy and start-up and innovation collaboration.\u201d<\/p>\n This modernisation of ties is being institutionalised through an overarching bilateral architecture, with Stener revealing to Firstpost that, \u201cwe plan to strengthen the relationship between Norway and India by creating a \u2018Green Strategic Partnership\u2019. This will focus on accelerating the green transition by building green industries and jobs, improve energy security and promote a circular economy. It will also encourage more investment and research.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt a time marked by heightened geopolitical competition, conflict in Europe, and increasing pressure on the rules-based international order, both Norway and India recognise the importance of rules-based cooperation, sustainable growth and multilateralism, and that shared perspective informs our partnership to a great extent,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADThe science of Arctic governance<\/p>\n As climate change accelerates polar ice melt, the Arctic has shifted from a remote scientific frontier to a vital geopolitical theater.<\/p>\n India\u2019s engagement with the region dates back to the signing of the Svalbard Treaty in 1920. Today, India operates a year-round research facility, the Himadri station, located at Ny-\u00c5lesund in Norway\u2019s Svalbard archipelago.<\/p>\n Indian scientists are focused on studying the direct links between Arctic melt patterns and the variability of the Indian Monsoon system, which is critical for South Asian food security.<\/p>\n Concurrently, the retreat of polar ice has opened up conversations surrounding the Northern Sea Route (NSR) as a potential alternative to traditional maritime lanes, When asked about the potential for broader conversations regarding \u201cOur dialogue with India on Arctic issues is substantial and primarily focused on scientific cooperation and research.\u201d<\/p>\n Pioneering green shipping & the net-zero maritime corridors<\/p>\n While the Arctic remains focused on scientific research, India\u2019s extensive 7,500-kilometre coastline is the primary staging ground for industrial maritime cooperation.<\/p>\n Norway is a world leader in \u201cgreen shipping,\u201d pioneering the development of electric ferries, autonomous cargo vessels, and alternative low-carbon fuels like green ammonia and hydrogen.<\/p>\n India\u2019s maritime vision, driven by initiatives like the Sagarmala port-development programme, is seeking to fully modernise its port infrastructure.<\/p>\n The question on many industry lips ahead of the Oslo summit is whether the two nations will formalise \u201cGreen Shipping Corridors\u201d \u2014 designated maritime routes explicitly mapped for zero-emission or low-carbon commercial vessels.<\/p>\n Stener highlighted the intense momentum,\u00a0\u201cNorway and India have a strong, longstanding maritime cooperation. We are seeing increased political engagement, industry and regulatory dialogue, and concrete commercial outcomes. India is a key strategic market for the Norwegian maritime industry.\u201d<\/p>\n In June 2025, India\u2019s first national pavilion at Nor-Shipping in Oslo, led by Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal, fostered dialogue at the ministerial level.<\/p>\n This was taken forward by Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy Marianne Sivertsen N\u00e6ss\u2019s visit to India during India Maritime Week in October.<\/p>\n \u201cGreen shipping remains a core priority for Norway. Norway collaborates closely with India in the International Maritime Organization and in the GreenVoyage2050 programme, including working towards a consensus on the IMO\u2019s Net-Zero Framework,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have an especially strong focus and collaboration on green maritime, to enable the transition to new and alternative fuels and retrofit legacy port and ship infrastructure. Specific outcomes of the visit will be announced in due course, but I can say there is strong momentum towards more concrete cooperation in sustainable maritime transport.\u201d<\/p>\n Combating plastic pollution in a Blue Economy<\/p>\n A critical component of this sustainable maritime strategy is the India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development, established in 2019 by Modi and then-Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg.<\/p>\n For coastal states across India, marine plastic pollution and the degradation of near-shore ecosystems pose a direct threat to millions of livelihoods. Stener provided an update on the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative, confirming its formal extension and outlining its operational successes.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the pillars of the collaboration is the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative, which is a partnership between the Norwegian Embassy and India\u2019s Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n \u201cSince it began, the India-Norway Marine Pollution Initiative has supported five major projects involving Indian and Norwegian organisations. These projects address different stages of marine and plastic pollution, from reducing waste at the source to managing and recycling it at the end of its life.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis work has helped improve recycling and circular economy practices, strengthened waste management systems in municipalities, created tools to track plastics and chemicals in rivers, and encouraged public participation through large-scale plastic clean-up drives.\u201d<\/p>\n The initiative has been extended to 2030, and the partners are now working together to expand the partnership further, including to topics like ghost fishing gear, reducing plastic waste in coastal cities and expanding work to new states, added Stener.<\/p>\n Turning to fisheries, a sector central to India\u2019s coastal economy, the Ambassador described a relationship driven primarily by corporate dynamics and market forces, stating, \u201c… at present, cooperation mainly takes place in the form of general dialogue and knowledge sharing, rather than specific joint initiatives. Much of the Indo-Norwegian engagement in fisheries is commercially driven.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat being said, sustainable fisheries is still closely linked to other important areas of cooperation, particularly our work on marine pollution and sustainable ocean planning. Marine spatial planning in particular contributes to more sustainable and resilient management of marine resources and coastal communities.\u201d<\/p>\n Stener pointed to the fact that Norway-India cooperation on fisheries has been historically strong, dating back to the very first bilateral project in Kerala in 1952, which played a foundational role in developing India\u2019s modern fisheries sector.<\/p>\n India as a diplomatic bridge<\/p>\n The 3rd India-Nordic Summit takes place in a fundamentally altered European security landscape.<\/p>\n Following Russia\u2019s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Nordic region underwent its most significant strategic realignment since World War II, with Sweden and Finland abandoning decades of military non-alignment to formally join the Nato alliance.<\/p>\n For Norway, which shares a land border with Russia in the High North, this shift is deeply local. Concurrently, India has consistently advocated for a return to dialogue and diplomacy, while positioning itself as a vital voice for the Global South.<\/p>\n New Delhi\u2019s growing diplomatic footprint in West Asia \u2014 manifested through frameworks like the I2U2 [India, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States] and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) \u2014 has elevated its status as an indispensable global interlocutor.<\/p>\n Stener spoke candidly about the existential nature of the current security challenges facing northern Europe and highlighted why India\u2019s multi-aligned diplomatic credibility is so highly valued in Oslo.<\/p>\n \u201cFor the first time since World War II, there is a war of conquest in Europe. For Norway, the invasion of Ukraine is existential. Russia is our neighbour, and the war is almost at our doorstep. The Nordic countries have adapted to the changing security landscape in Europe. For a small country like Norway, there is no alternative to an international order based on multilateralism and international law. For us, not reacting firmly to Russia\u2019s invasion could have long-lasting and dangerous implications for our security.\u201d<\/p>\n In this fragmented environment, Norway views India as a critical stabilising force capable of communicating across historical divides.<\/p>\n \u201cToday\u2019s global challenges must be addressed through broader diplomatic engagement across regions. India maintains strong relationships and enjoys credibility both in the Global South and among Western partners. India and Norway, and in fact, all the Nordic countries, are partners working together towards a more sustainable and peaceful world.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe welcome India\u2019s growing engagement in West Asia and see it as a positive factor for regional and global stability. India has longstanding historical, economic and people-to-people ties with the region, and its expanding role reflects its increasing global influence,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n Also Watch:<\/p>\n As Modi arrives in Oslo, the agenda is clear.<\/p>\n The days of treating India-Nordic ties as an auxiliary sub-segment of European diplomacy are over.<\/p>\n \u201cWe believe there can be even closer collaboration between India and the Nordic countries on regional and global issues that concern us all, and our dialogue at the Summit will reflect this,\u201d Stener concluded.<\/p>\n First Published: Home<\/a>Explainers<\/a>43 years in the making: Norway envoy on why Modi\u2019s Oslo visit and India\u2019s Nordic pivot are historicEnd of Article
\nthe April 2025 Pahalgam terrorist attack.<\/a><\/p>\n
The #IndiaEFTATEPA<\/a> Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement is one of \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3\u2019s largest investment promotion frameworks, with a $100-billion investment commitment over 15 yrs from EFTA countries, expected to generate 1 million jobs in India. #NorwayIndia<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/vJI39uVZSb<\/a><\/p>\n
\nespecially given recent disruptions.<\/a><\/p>\n
\nthe commercial utilisation of the Northern Sea Route,<\/a> Stener maintained a measured position, saying,\u00a0 \u201cNorway\u2019s position has consistently been that any increased activity in the Arctic must be governed by international law and the established Arctic governance structures.\u201d<\/p>\n
\nMay 18, 2026, 12:07 IST<\/p>\n