India-Norway Blue economy partnership takes shape with focus on ocean industries

The 5th India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development met in New Delhi on June 23 to review the cooperation and chart the way forward. Meeting was led by the Norwegian Ambassador to India, Hans Jacob Frydenlund and the MoES Secretary Dr M Ravichandran.

Others in attendance were Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Ministry of External Affairs, Department of Fisheries, DG Shipping, NCCR, NIOT, NIAS, Cochin Shipyard and Tuticorin Port from the Indian side.

From the Norwegian side, Ministry of Climate and Environment, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Innovation Norway, the Consulate General in Mumbai, Norwegian Environment Agency, Institute of Marine Research, Port of Oslo, DNV and several Centres of Expertise were present.


A number of action points were agreed, including new projects and workshops, as well as plans to further connect ocean industries on both sides. The parties agreed to explore further cooperation on Green Maritime, Sustainable Ocean Management, Deep Ocean Technology and Offshore Wind.

Over the last 3 years, Norway and India have expanded cooperation on topics including marine pollution, Ocean Management, Green Maritime and Ocean Research. The countries are working towards growing their Blue Economies while cutting emissions and protecting the Ocean.

“The Joint Task Force was proposed by honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he met our previous Prime Minister at the India-Nordic Summit in Stockholm in 2018. And it was at the top of the agenda when our current PM, Mr. Jonas Gahr Støre, met PM Modi at the 2nd Summit in Copenhagen in May this year. Our PMs agreed that the Blue Economy can deliver economic growth, new jobs, improved nutrition, and increased food security, if managed sustainably and emphasized the benefits of partnering to transform the shipping industry towards a low carbon future. I believe today’s meeting was a good step taking forward the tasks given to us by our Prime Ministers”, said the Norwegian Ambassador after the meeting.