India and Norway held high-level bilateral talks on Wednesday aimed at bolstering maritime cooperation, with a focus on green technologies, sustainable development and Arctic navigation.
The discussions were held on the sidelines of the Nor-Shipping 2025 event in Oslo, bringing together key ministers from both countries.
Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal met with Norway’s Transport Minister Jon-Ivar Nygård to explore collaboration on green maritime technologies.
India expressed strong interest in adopting Norway’s ferry electrification model, with both nations agreeing to exchange technical expertise and experiences.
“India is advancing port infrastructure, green shipping, shipbuilding, and digitalization under the Maritime India Vision 2030 and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047,” Sonowal said. He emphasized the country’s ambitions to transform its ports into clean energy hubs supporting offshore wind, green hydrogen, and low-carbon logistics.
Joint Study on Arctic’s Northern Sea Route
India proposed a joint feasibility study with Norway to explore the operationalization of the Northern Sea Route through the Arctic.
The study aims to assess the potential for safe and sustainable shipping in polar waters by focusing on ice-class vessel design, research and development in Arctic navigation and new technologies to mitigate environmental risks posed by extreme weather conditions.
Sonowal also met with Marianne Sivertsen Næss, Norway’s minister of fisheries and ocean policy, to explore areas such as ship recycling, seafarer training, ocean renewable energy and sustainable fishing.
The Alang Ship Recycling Yard in Gujarat was identified as a potential site for collaboration on environmentally friendly ship-breaking practices.
“Our long-standing cooperation reflects shared values, mutual respect and a strong commitment to sustainable development,” Sonowal said, noting the recent India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement as a milestone in bilateral ties.
Push for Innovation in the Blue Economy
Both sides discussed scaling joint efforts in shipbuilding by leveraging Norway’s design expertise and India’s shipyard infrastructure to create eco-friendly vessels. India invited Norwegian investment in areas such as wind and tidal energy, deep-sea exploration, and sustainable aquaculture.
Sonowal underscored India’s efforts to build a gender-inclusive maritime sector, citing the launch of the Saagar Mein Samman initiative to boost women’s participation in seafaring roles.
The ministers agreed to enhance engagement under initiatives such as the Green Voyage 2050 and India’s Green Coastal Shipping Programme. Collaboration will also extend into smart logistics, AI-driven port ecosystems, and development of alternative fuels including hydrogen and e-methanol.
“India and Norway are working together towards building a sustainable and inclusive global maritime order,” Sonowal said, expressing confidence that the strategic partnership would continue to “drive innovation, sustainability and mutually beneficial initiatives.”
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