On January 28, NICCI hosted a high-level dialogue meeting with Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion, and Commerce, marking the start of a strategic initiative to connect Norwegian businesses with new opportunities in Tamil Nadu.
The event was opened by Helge Tryti, Chair of NICCI. Navreet Kaur from First House moderated the session.
Adding valuable insights to the discussion was Indian Ambassador to Norway, Acquino Vimal and Paul Arun, Senior Vice President of the Tamil Nadu Guidance Cell.
Norwegian businesses and organization that participated and shared their perspectives to the delegation included Erlend Sannes Hadland (NHO), Amit Mital (DNV), Avanish Verma (Pixii), Gard Madsen (Invest in Norway), Odin Aadland (Nor-Shipping), and Lars-Petter Traa (Cambi Group)
Tamil Nadu, one of India’s most industrialized states, presents strong investment potential across sectors like renewable energy, manufacturing, maritime industries, and IT services -all of which align well with Norwegian expertise.
During the meeting, the Minister Dr. T.R.B. Rajaa and the senior officials from the Guidance Cell , highlighted the state’s pro-business policies, skilled workforce, and well-developed infrastructure. The delegation also showcased success stories of foreign investments, demonstrating how global companies have thrived in the region.
Why Tamil Nadu?
- Industrial Hub – Tamil Nadu is home to over 38% of India’s automobile manufacturing and is a leader in renewable energy production.
- Strategic Location & Ports – With four major ports and 15 minor ports, Tamil Nadu offers excellent connectivity for maritime industries.
- Thriving IT & Tech Ecosystem – The state ranks among the top in India for software exports and innovation-driven startups.
- Government Incentives – Tamil Nadu offers customized investment packages and special economic zones to attract foreign investors.
Moving forward
The meeting was just the beginning. NICCI and Tamil Nadu will work on developing a structured platform for Norwegian companies to explore investments and partnerships, with follow-up actions, including a business delegation visit to Tamil Nadu later this year.
With growing synergies between Norway and Tamil Nadu, this engagement opens doors to exciting business opportunities for NICCI members.
Thanks a lot to our moderator for the dialoge Navreet Kaur, from our member company First House and the host for the breakfast meeting Schjødt AS.
Stay tuned for more updates on this promising journey!