Prime Minister greeted by cheering members of Indian community in Oslo….reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received a warm and enthusiastic welcome from the Indian community in Oslo on Sunday as he arrived in Norway for a two day official visit focused on strengthening bilateral ties and participation in the third India-Nordic Summit.
Members of the Indian diaspora gathered in large numbers to greet the Prime Minister, waving Indian flags and chanting “Modi Modi” as he interacted with them shortly after his arrival.
PM Modi also watched cultural and musical performances organised in his honour and interacted with young dancers who performed Bharatnatyam to welcome him.
Earlier, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store personally received PM Modi at the airport in what Indian officials described as a special gesture.
The visit marks the first trip by an Indian Prime Minister to Norway in 43 years and PM Modi’s first ever visit to the Nordic country.
In a post on X, PM Modi expressed gratitude for the welcome and said he was confident the visit would further strengthen ties between the two nations.
“I have landed in Oslo, Norway. I am grateful for the warm welcome from Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store at the airport. This is the first visit by an Indian prime minister to Norway in over 40 years. I am confident that the visit will strengthen the friendship between India and Norway,” PM Modi posted.
The Prime Minister said he would meet Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja during the visit and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Store.
PM Modi will also participate in the third India-Nordic Summit in Oslo, where leaders from Nordic countries are expected to discuss regional cooperation, economic partnerships and global issues.
“I will meet Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja, and hold talks with Prime Minister Store. Tomorrow, the 19th, the third India-Nordic Summit will be held in Oslo. It will be a good opportunity to meet my Nordic colleagues,” he added.
The Ministry of External Affairs described Norway as a “valued partner” and said the visit was expected to inject fresh momentum into bilateral relations.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the visit would help deepen cooperation across trade, investment and green technologies.
“Norway is a valued partner for India. Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral engagements, and tomorrow, he will participate in the 3rd India-Nordic Summit. The visit is set to add fresh vigour to the India-Norway partnership,” Jaiswal posted on X.
PM Modi arrived in Norway after concluding his visit to Sweden, where India and Sweden elevated their relationship to a Strategic Partnership.
According to the MEA, discussions during the Norway visit will focus on trade and investment, clean and green technologies, maritime cooperation and the blue economy.
The ministry also said the visit would provide an opportunity to boost bilateral trade, which stood at around USD 2.73 billion in 2024, as well as deepen investment cooperation, including Norway’s Government Pension Fund investments in the Indian capital market.
The visit comes as India seeks to strengthen engagement with Nordic countries in areas including renewable energy, innovation, sustainable development and emerging technologies.
