18 May,2026 07:20 PM IST | Oslo | mid-day online correspondent
PM Narendra Modi during a meeting with his Norwegian counterpart Jonas Gahr Store, in Oslo, Norway, on Monday. PIC/PTI
India and Norway on Monday agreed to a "green strategic partnership" aimed at strengthening cooperation in clean energy transition and sustainable development.
Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi, speaking on the Day 1 of his two-day visit to Oslo, said the partnership would combine India's scale, speed, and talent with Norway's technology and capital to develop global solutions across sectors such as clean energy, climate resilience, blue economy and green shipping, news agency AFP reported.
"From clean energy to climate resilience, from the blue economy to green shipping, in every sector, India's scale, speed and talent will combine with Norway's technology and capital, and our companies will develop global solutions," Modi stated.
India, the world's third-largest importer of oil, has recently faced supply disruptions due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the conflict in West Asia. Nearly half of India's crude imports typically pass through the strategic waterway.
Following fuel tax cuts to control price pressures, India - where around 73 per cent of electricity is still generated from coal-fired plants - has also announced plans to accelerate approvals for wind energy projects and battery storage systems.
Norway, Europe's largest oil and gas producer after Russia, generates almost all its electricity from renewable sources, primarily hydropower.
PM Modi said the new partnership would be "beneficial for the entire world".
His Norwegian counterpart, Jonas Gahr Store, said India had "a lot to contribute" in the field of clean energy, noting its progress in solar, wind and energy storage technologies.
"This country is currently making significant progress in the fields of renewable energy, solar, wind, and energy storage technologies," he said.
This is the first visit by an Indian PM to Norway since Indira Gandhi's 1983 trip.
The two countries also signed agreements in health and digital technology.
Economic ties between India and the European Free Trade Association countries - Norway, Switzerland, Iceland and Liechtenstein - have strengthened since the free trade agreement came into effect in October 2025.
"Whether in Ukraine or West Asia, many parts of the world are witnessing conflict. In such a situation, India and Europe are entering a new golden era in their relations," PM Modi said.
Modi, who arrived from Sweden earlier in the day, is also scheduled to attend a Norway-India business conference.
On Tuesday, he will meet Nordic leaders and participate in the third Nordic-India summit before concluding his European tour with a visit to Italy.
(With AFP inputs)
