Minister Støre and his Indian counterpart, Minister Krishna co-chaired the 4th meeting of India-Norway Joint Commission on 2 March 2010 during which they discussed the entire gamut of India-Norway bilateral relations. The two Ministers also held talks on regional and international issues of mutual interest, such as the WTO and developments in Afghanistan.
In addition to focusing on political talks, Minister Støre also emphasized on the framework conditions for Norwegian companies, during his visit to New Delhi. A growing number of Norwegian companies are establishing themselves in India, and the Minister met representatives from Telenor, Aker Solutions, DNV and SN Power, among others. “It is important that Norwegian companies in India focus on their corporate social responsibility, and my impression is that the Norwegian companies I have met here today place great emphasis on CSR,” Mr Støre said.
He also inaugurated a seminar on maritime Security organized by Institute of Defence studies, Norway and Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis, India. Speaking at the seminar, Minister Støre stated that “the mere fact that two of the most influential Norwegian and Indian defence research institutes have come together in this substantial programme of cooperation. Together they are developing new knowledge and expertise on topics within the foreign and security policy field.” Link to his Speech at the Seminar.
An agreement on cooperation in the areas of fisheries and aquaculture was also signed. The agreement sets out the institutional framework for aquaculture cooperation between Norway and India. India is among the ten largest seafood producers in the world, and half of its production is from fish farming. “Norway has considerable expertise in the field of aquaculture, and there is great potential for cooperation with India in this sector,” Minister Støre commented.