Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to enhance economic cooperation between India and Norway during her two-day visit to Oslo, where she will meet top Norwegian leadership and industry representatives.
During the visit, Sitharaman will call on Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and hold bilateral discussions with Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister for Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth. The meetings are expected to focus on deepening trade, investment, and technological collaboration between the two countries.
In addition to official engagements, the Finance Minister will participate in a roundtable interaction with Norwegian CEOs and investors, aiming to boost investment flows and explore new business partnerships. She will also visit the Oslo Science Park to interact with emerging start-ups and engage with the Indian diaspora at a community event.
Prior to her Norway visit, Sitharaman traveled to Germany, where she held discussions with senior leaders and global industry executives amid ongoing talks surrounding the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
In Munich, she met Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, who highlighted the company’s long-standing association with India and its investments across the maritime sector. Svendsen reaffirmed plans to further expand operations and partnerships in India, while also commending the government’s reform initiatives, including deregulation and ease-of-doing-business measures. He particularly noted recent Union Budget announcements related to container manufacturing.
The discussions also touched upon the potential advantages of the India–EU FTA in enhancing market access and creating new opportunities for businesses in both regions.
Sitharaman also met Lars Klingbeil, Germany’s Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance. Their talks referenced the recent meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in India, which reinforced cooperation in defence, trade, and technology sectors.
Klingbeil described the proposed FTA as a significant milestone for trade and investment and emphasized bilateral development cooperation, including support for metro rail expansion projects in India. Sitharaman also highlighted the success of India’s digital payment systems and expressed willingness to share best practices related to India’s digital public infrastructure with Germany.
During her visit to Munich, the Finance Minister further met Brigitte Haas and Alois Philipp Maria, holding discussions aimed at strengthening India’s ties with Liechtenstein.
The engagements across Norway and Germany underscore India’s continued push to deepen strategic economic partnerships across Europe.
