Norway’s Minister of Fisheries & Ocean Policy visited Mumbai during India Maritime Week 2025. The visit highlighted growing maritime cooperation, especially green shipping and blue economy partnership between India and Norway.
Context
- India and Norway are major ocean-based economies.
- Both nations are aligning efforts to build sustainable, secure, and technology-driven maritime systems.
Strategic Maritime Cooperation
- Oceans central to both economies → link trade, employment & shipping.
- India is rising as global shipbuilding, trade & digital maritime hub.
- Norway has advanced maritime clusters (ship design, finance, shipyards).
Trade Boost
- India–EFTA TEPA came into force (Oct 1) → boosts trade, investment, technology transfer.
Institutional Mechanisms
- India–Norway Ocean Dialogue (2019)
- Joint Working Group on Maritime Cooperation (10th meeting in 2025)
- India–Norway Task Force on Blue Economy → focus on marine protection, pollution control, decarbonization, ship recycling.
Industrial Collaboration
- India gaining prominence in global shipbuilding.
- ~10% of ships ordered by Norwegian shipowners are built in India.
- Cochin Shipyard signed 14-vessel deal with Norway’s Wilson ASA → trust in Indian shipyards.
- India playing key role in eco-friendly ship recycling.
Green Maritime Vision
- Norway’s Sustainability Goals: Cut 50% emissions from domestic shipping & fisheries by 2030 (vs 2005 levels).
- Innovation in Marine Tech: Exploring hydrogen, ammonia, autonomous ships.
- Human Resource & Gender Collaboration
- Seafarer Cooperation: Indian seafarers are 2nd largest group on Norwegian-controlled ships.
- Women in Maritime: Joint focus on gender equity in shipping. India’s active participation in Maritime SheEO Conference supported by Norway.
Future Vision
- India’s Maritime Vision 2030 & Amrit Kaal 2047 align with Norway’s ocean sustainability goals.
- Both nations work toward clean oceans, low-carbon shipping, digital maritime services & inclusive workforce.
Conclusion:
The India–Norway maritime partnership is emerging as a global model for green shipping, ocean diplomacy, and blue economy cooperation. Both nations aim to build a cleaner, safer, and more equitable ocean future through technology, policy coordination, and people-to-people maritime training links.
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