Ex-IAF chief Browne to be India's envoy in Norway

NEW DELHI: Former Chief of the Air Staff Norman Anil Kumar Browne has been appointed India's next Ambassador to Norway.

Browne, an ace fighter pilot, had served as IAF chief between July 31, 2011 and December 31, 2013.

He is expected to take up his new assignment shortly, the Ministry of External Affairs said.

Browne will succeed R K Tyagi as India's envoy in Norway. During his 40-year-long career in IAF, he had served as Joint Director at Air War Strategy Cell at the Air Headquarters, Chief Operations Officer and Air Officer Commanding of a Sukhoi-30 fighter aircraft base.

His other important assignments were Assistant Chief of the Air Staff (Intelligence) at the Air Headquarters.

He was also responsible for establishing the Indian Defence Wing in Tel Aviv, Israel in April 1997 where he served as the Defence Attache till July 2000.

India has robust bilateral ties with Norway. There has been a substantial growth in economic and commercial relations between India and Norway in recent years especially in areas such as oil and gas, shipping and maritime industries.