Prime Minister attends the India-Norway Business and Research Summit

📌 Summary:

• PM Modi attended the India-Norway Business and Research Summit at Oslo on 18 May 2026; Crown Prince Haakon and Norwegian PM Jonas Gahr Støre also participated
• Over 50 CEOs and 250+ participants from Indian and Norwegian business and research communities attended; momentum follows entry into force of India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA)
• PM urged stakeholders to achieve the TEPA investment target of USD 100 billion and consequent creation of 1 million jobs in India
• PM highlighted India's growth trajectory, demographic dividend, investor-friendly regulatory framework, and competitive federalism
• Sectors flagged for Norwegian investment: blue economy, shipbuilding, green transition, renewable energy, health-tech, critical minerals, start-ups
• PM underscored India's green agenda — climate commitments, renewable energy expansion, grid infrastructure, green hydrogen, clean energy
• Four roundtables held in Oslo on healthcare innovation, maritime cooperation, batteries & energy storage, digitalization & electrification, wind energy
• Multiple business agreements signed between Indian and Norwegian companies during the Summit

🎯 UPSC Relevance: GS2 — India and bilateral economic agreements with EFTA bloc (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein); India's green transition diplomacy; FDI strategy

📝 Prelims Facts:

• TEPA = Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement between India and EFTA bloc (Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein)
• TEPA investment commitment: USD 100 billion over 15 years, with 1 million jobs in India
• EFTA bloc countries: Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein
• Norwegian PM: Jonas Gahr Støre; Crown Prince: Haakon

🔑 Key Term: EFTA — European Free Trade Association, an intergovernmental organisation of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland promoting free trade; signed TEPA with India in March 2024