By Ayushi Agarwal

New Delhi [India], January 29 (ANI): Norway's Ambassador to India, May-Elin Stener, has welcomed the India-European Union Free Trade Agreement (FTA), calling it a positive step for global trade and a strong complement to the existing India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA), of which Norway is a part.

In an interview, Ambassador Stener described the India-EU FTA as 'a very good development', while noting that Norway is not a member of the EU.

'Norway strongly supports an open and rules-based world trade order, and in that sense we see this as a very positive step,' she said. 'We already have a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement with India in the EFTA context, which entered into force in October last year. An EU-India agreement would be a very good complement to that.'

She noted that the EU is Norway's largest trading partner, and closer economic ties between India and the EU could also indirectly benefit Norway by strengthening trade flows and supply-chain linkages.

At a time of rising global trade tensions, Ambassador Stener emphasised the importance of diversified and stable partnerships.

'Europe is now clearly saying that India is important for us,' she said, adding that both the EU and EFTA countries see India as a key long-term economic partner. 'Norway is a small country with a very open economy, and we have benefited greatly from free trade in our development. These are good developments in that direction.'

Notably, India and EFTA signed the Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA) on 10 March 2024 which took effect on 1 October 2025, marking India's first FTA with four developed European nations. TEPA commits USD 100 billion in investments and 1 million direct jobs over 15 years, the first binding pledge of its kind in any Indian FTA.

At its core, the agreement envisions unlocking $100 billion in investments and creating one million direct jobs in India over the next fifteen years, marking it as one of the most forward-looking trade partnerships in the country's economic history.

Further, responding to questions on recent remarks by former US President Donald Trump regarding the Nobel Peace Prize, the Ambassador reiterated that the Nobel Committee operates independently of the Norwegian government.

'The Nobel Committee is an independent committee. The Norwegian government does not interfere in any way--not in nominations, not in discussions, and not in the decision-making,' she said. 'The prize is meant to be an international award without national interference, even though it is awarded in Oslo.'

She added that while the government has no role in the process, Norway always welcomes Nobel Peace Prize laureates to the country.

Regarding President Trump's statements on Greenland, Ambassador Stener said Norway's position is unambiguous.

'Greenland belongs to the Kingdom of Denmark, and we are fully behind Denmark on these issues,' she said, while adding that Norway remains open to discussions on Arctic security within the NATO framework.

Reflecting on bilateral relations, the Ambassador said India-Norway ties have continued to strengthen, particularly after the EFTA-India TEPA came into force.

'There is a growing interest from Norwegian companies in India,' she said, citing strong participation at the recent India Energy Week, where 16 Norwegian firms showcased their capabilities. Key areas of cooperation include renewable energy, maritime industries, circular economy, and digital technologies.

High-level political engagement has also intensified, with multiple ministerial visits in both directions over the past year.

Looking ahead, Norway's Minister for Digitalisation is expected to visit India for the AI Impact Summit in February, and preparations are underway for the India-Nordic Summit.

'I very much hope that we will be able to welcome Prime Minister Modi to Oslo in the first half of this year for the India-Nordic Summit,' Ambassador Stener said. (ANI)