NICCI’s extended Board meets the newly appointed Indian ambassador to Norway and initiates to take the Norway-India business relations to a new high!
Ambassador Browne meets the NICCI board and some of the members.
The mood was right and the setting was perfect indeed! On a day when India launched its first successful spacecraft to Mars, the Norway India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI) invited the newly appointed Indian ambassador to Norway, H.E. Ambassador Air Chief Marshall (Retd) NAK Browne to give a presentation of the New Initiatives on Economic Policy in India here in Oslo. The timing could not be better, but, just a day before the ambitious launch of Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ campaign on September 25 in Delhi.
“I can’t think of a better time to start this endeavour of robust bilateral relations between India and Norway than now”
Addressing the Board of Norway India Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the auspicious company of representatives belonging to various Norwegian and Indian companies, Indian ambassador to Norway, H.E. Ambassador Air Chief Marshall (Retd) NAK Browne said, “I can’t think of a better time to start this endeavour of robust bilateral relations between India and Norway than now. Our country has been independent in the last 68 years and I have not seen India engage with the world in a more proactive manner than what I have seen in the last few months.”
Rina Sunder, Chairperson, NICCI introduced the Indian Ambassador to the house and emphasized that there is considerable potential for greater co-operation between Norway and India. Setting the tone for the meeting, she said, “We would like to realize this potential, and, at the same time, in order to create and sustain a positive environment for this to happen and endure, it is necessary for us to remain sensitive to roadblocks both for Indian companies operating in Norway and for Norwegian companies operating in India.” On behalf of the board, she expressed her keen interest to identify the roadblocks and build an enduring business relationship between the two countries together with the co-operation of the government and the Embassies.
H.E. NAK Browne presented before the dignitaries and the Board of NICCI a seven-minute presentation to announce the five-pillar strategy of the Indian government to drive India’s growth which offer multiple avenues for collaboration and new investment. Positioning India as one of the fastest developing economies in the world and one of the most sought-after investment destinations, the presentation detailed out the strategy in five key areas:
a) Infrastructure development,
b) Manufacturing growth, employment creation and promotion of entrepreneurship
c) Energy sufficiency
d) Skill Development, and,
e) Business environment improvement
“India is a challenging place to work but a promising place too”
Some of the Board members of NICCI like Per Reinboth representing Reinboth International and Torkel Thorsen from the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) emphasized the need to create greater avenues for a stronger bilateral relations between Norway and India. H.E. NAK Browne responded with various newly introduced initiatives to take care of roadblocks around infrastructure, lack of trust, red tape, FDI etc. He also announced that there are talks to have a Commercial Counsellor to focus on trade and commerce between the nations soon. “India is a challenging place to work but a promising place too” he added.
Other companies and organizations who were present in the meeting included SCHJØDT, EKSPORTKREDITT NORGE, CONAX AS, JOTUN AS, STATKRAFT, DNB, DNVGL, ORKLA ASA and LARSEN & TOUEBRO, TCS, HCL, KONGSBERGGRUPPEN, NETS, GIEK, NHO and DEVANT. Ine Charlott Paulsen represented the Ministry of Trade and Fisheries and Jon Heikki Aas attended the meeting from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Riding the ambitious launch of ‘Make in India’ campaign and the ‘passion’ that the newly appointed Indian ambassador to Norway, H.E. Ambassador Air Chief Marshall (Retd) NAK Browne has shown in the meeting with the NICCI, the message was clear indeed! India-Norway trade and commerce relations is here to surge ahead like it was ever in the history of the two nations.
Written by: Sudipa Chakraborty
Thank you to Schjødt
The Board of NICCI want to thank our member Schjødt for hosting the meeting in an excellent way in their Oslo office.