Norwegian Ambassador to India, May-Elin Stener, expressed confidence in the strong and growing ties between India and Norway. Speaking at the premiere of the documentary ‘All I Want for Christmas’ in New Delhi, she highlighted the scope for expanding business and economic opportunities between the two nations.
Support for Ukraine Refugees
The documentary sheds light on the plight of Ukrainian refugees arriving in Norway after the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Ambassador Stener stated that Norway welcomed 85,000 Ukrainian refugees with open arms. She reaffirmed Norway’s support for Ukraine, saying, “Norway supports Ukraine’s fight for freedom against Russia’s invasion.”
Shared Efforts in Conflict Resolution
Ambassador Stener also commended India’s contributions toward global conflict resolution, noting similarities in the approaches of both nations. “India is trying to contribute in the same way as Norway,” she added while expressing hope for a peaceful resolution to ongoing conflicts.
Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)
Discussing economic ties, Ambassador Stener underlined the significance of the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) signed on March 10, 2024, between India and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) member states—Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
The agreement, once ratified, will eliminate or reduce duties on key industrial products, pharmaceuticals, machinery, fertilizers, fish, and marine goods. Ambassador Stener mentioned that Norway is set to ratify the agreement within weeks, with Switzerland following in the next few months.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
Ambassador Stener also looked forward to hosting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Oslo next year for the Nordic-India Summit. She emphasized that the growing collaboration focuses on areas such as sustainable development, climate change, innovation, and digitalization.
The previous India-Nordic Summit, held in May 2022 in Copenhagen, saw discussions on post-pandemic recovery, clean energy growth, and multilateral cooperation.
