PM Modi heads to Norway for key India-Nordic Summit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to arrive in Norway on Monday as part of the fourth leg of his ongoing five-nation tour, marking the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to the Nordic nation in over 40 years.The Norway's visit is Modi’s wider diplomatic tour covering the United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy, aimed at deepening India’s engagement with key global partners amid evolving geopolitical and economic challenges.
Describing the visit as a significant milestone in bilateral relations, Norwegian Ambassador to India May-Elin Stener said the trip underlines the transformation in ties between the two countries since the last Indian prime ministerial visit to Norway more than four decades ago.She noted that India has emerged as the world’s most populous country, the largest democracy and among the fastest-growing major economies, making it an increasingly influential player in global strategic and economic affairs.
A major highlight of the Oslo visit will be the third India-Nordic Summit, where Modi is expected to hold discussions with leaders from Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland and Sweden.The summit, which was first organised in Stockholm in 2018 and later hosted in Copenhagen in 2022, is expected to focus strongly on strategic cooperation amid rising global uncertainties and shifting international alliances.India’s Ambassador to Norway Gloria Gangte said the growing engagement between India and Nordic nations reflects the expanding scope of cooperation between the regions. Speaking ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit, she noted that the holding of the third India-Nordic Summit underlines the strong momentum in ties and the significant potential both sides see in deepening collaboration across multiple sectors.

Oslo, Norway: On Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Norway, India’s Ambassador to Norway, Gloria Gangte says, "India and the Nordics have had a very good relationship. The fact that the third India–Nordic Summit is taking place shows the great potential we are looking at..." pic.twitter.com/KA5Qp0SZFJ

— IANS (@ians_india) May 18, 2026

Key areas of discussion are likely to include clean energy transition, renewable energy cooperation, digital technologies, defence collaboration, sustainability initiatives, Arctic policy and space partnerships.
According to information,during the visit, Modi will also hold bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and meet King Harald V and Queen Sonja. The two prime ministers are also expected to jointly address the India-Norway Business and Research Summit.Economic cooperation between India and Norway has witnessed steady growth in recent years. Bilateral trade between the two nations is estimated at nearly USD 2.73 billion, while Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), has invested close to USD 28 billion in Indian financial markets.India’s overall trade with Nordic countries currently stands at around USD 19 billion, reflecting expanding commercial engagement between the regions.The visit also comes months after the implementation of the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement, signed in March 2024. The agreement grants near-zero tariff access for Norwegian goods entering India in sectors such as maritime technology, renewable energy and healthcare equipment.In exchange, more than 99 per cent of Indian exports receive duty-free access to EFTA markets, providing a boost to sectors including textiles, chemicals and engineering products, while also facilitating greater mobility for Indian professionals and IT services.