Norway ambassador, Hans Jacob talks about tourism perspectives

Think of an extreme adventure in the snow, a breathtaking moment on the top of a cliff touching the clouds or those awe-inspiring Hollywood movie landscapes or the arctic fox and elusive polar bear crawling down the magnificent glaciers or, ofcourse, the heavenly “The Northern Lights’- nothing can beat NORWAY. In an exclusive interview with TW, Norwegian ambassador, Hans Jacob Frydenlund talks about tourism perspectives, India-Vietnam relations and the road ahead in the post-pandemic situation.

Mountains, glaciers, deep coasts, green spaces, Vikings, colourful wooden houses, hiking and skiing ….these are some of the pictures that flash across our minds the moment we hear about the name Norway. But the Land of the Midnight Sun has a lot more to offer for tourists across the world. What will be your message to first-time visitors?

Norway offers a perfect combination of adventure and pleasure. I encourage first-time travellers to travel better, travel slowly or sustainably. Take time to absorb our nature, history, culture, traditions, and Norwegian lifestyle! Norway offers a lot of unique experiences for individuals and families and that too all year round. I invite you to explore our “think cool” Capital Oslo all the way into the Fjord region experiencing scenic routes on road or rail in the summers enjoying Norway’s Arctic in the winters and the magical Northern Lights.

You are likely to appreciate our art, design, architecture, and several museums across the country but you must also enjoy our surreal viewpoints, jaw-dropping waterfalls, wild glaciers or one of the many great hikes around the fjords.

How do you look at the possibilities of mutual cooperation between the two countries in the field of bilateral trade and economic development?

Norway is increasing its focus on India. Despite the vast contrast in size and location, Norway and India share political and economic interests in a fast-changing world. This includes commitment toward the green transition. Norway cooperates with India on the blue economy, clean energy, climate and the environment. On both climate and the 2030 agenda for sustainable development, for the world to succeed, India’s success is key.

India’s enhanced climate goals make it an attractive destination for green investments and energy cooperation. Although differently sized, the Indian and Norwegian economies are a good fit for cooperation on trade and investments. The countries have an increasing and extensive business collaboration.

The Norwegian government’s development finance institution, Norfund, has already committed over 140 million USD to India and is looking to India for investments through its new Climate Investment Fund. The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund has invested about 17 billion USD in India across all sectors. Trade between India and Norway doubled from 2020 to 2021, with 2022 looking promising.

Open markets and international trade are key enablers of the energy transition. We are therefore developing green technologies and solutions that can be implemented and scaled beyond our borders, including in countries like India. The role of the private sector will be more important than ever as we move towards a post-pandemic future. At the same time, we must accelerate the global shift to a green future, including through the use of solar energy. That is why Norway has become a member of the International Solar Alliance (ISA). It will enhance the cooperation between India and Norway, including for our companies and academics. The alliance is working to scale up the use of solar energy worldwide. Norway will contribute to the important work of combating global warming and improving access to clean energy.

The blue economy partnership is another example of mutually beneficial cooperation. Since the creation of the India-Norway Task Force on Blue Economy for Sustainable Development in 2019, suggested by Prime Minister Modi, the partnership has expanded to marine pollution, ocean management, green shipping and more. If managed sustainably, the blue economy can deliver economic growth, new jobs, improved nutrition, and increased food security. Ocean-based climate solutions can contribute 1/5 of the reductions needed to keep the world within 1.5 degrees of warming.

The fastest movement in recent times has been in the area of hydrogen. From the establishment of the Norway-India Centre of Excellence to several Norwegian and Indian companies signing contracts in the field, the cooperation in hydrogen looks to be gaining strength as well as momentum.

During the recent visit of the Norwegian Foreign Minister to India, over 50 bilaterals between companies were held and eight MoUs were signed in the presence of the Indian ministers for petroleum and natural gas, and new and renewable energy.

Indian IT majors like TCS, Infosys, HCL, L&T InfoTech, Cognizant and Tech Mahindra have increased their presence in Norway over the last few years due to the existing potential of IT outsourcing contracts in the country. How do you look at the mutual investment possibilities in the areas of Science and Information Technology (IT)?

Trade relations between India and Norway are growing. At the same time, we see an increase in economic ties between the two countries. Big Norwegian companies like Yara, Jotun and Orkla have large production facilities here in India. Similarly, a high level of qualified workers has come to Norway from India in the last few years. Indians are the largest group of work immigrants in Norway after the EU.

In terms of investments, the Norwegian sovereign wealth fund has invested about 17 billion USD in India across all sectors. The Norwegian government’s development finance institution, Norfund, has already invested over 140 million USD in renewable energy solutions in India. The newly established Climate Investment Fund will be capitalized with NOK 2 billion each year for the next five years. India is one of the markets that the fund is focusing on.

India is an important strategic partner for Norway in higher education and research. This is clearly stipulated in our ‘India Strategy’. An existing MoU for higher education was renewed during the visit of our Foreign Minister Anniken Huilfeldt in April this year. This really shows that promoting collaboration and exchange within higher education is a priority. At the Embassy we have a dedicated Counsellor for Science, Technology & Higher Education. The Norwegian Research Council also has an extensive set of programs in India and India is the largest partner outside of Europe.

The government’s Strategy for cooperation in higher education and research – The Panorama strategy – has listed India as one of the nine priority countries. The main target of the strategy is increased interaction between education, research and innovation and increased student mobility, outgoing and incoming.

The joint research has resulted not only in close relationships between Norwegian and Indian institutions but has also led to a significant number of scientific publications. Cooperation in higher education, research and innovation opens doors for Norwegian companies when it comes to knowledge environments in India. Business cooperation also provides access and opportunities for our education and research environments.

If you may share with us your personal experience of India? How similar or different are the two countries in social and cultural perspectives?

Norway and India may differ in size and proximity, but both countries follow similar ethos and principles. We are both democracies. We both are welcoming to all kinds of cultures and people from around the world. While Norwegians continue to be impressed by Indian culture, cuisine, films and music; Indians have a deep fondness for Norwegian literature which is increasingly being translated into Indian languages. Authors like Maja Lunde, Roy Jacobsen and Jo Nesbo are popular names in India.

My personal experience in India and with Indian colleagues and friends has been very pleasant and filled with gaining knowledge about this country. I have come to appreciate fondly the large diversity of India. Each day brings new experiences and insights. This place is a great amalgamation of cultures and people. I find that extremely charming.

Climate change has become one of the most important issues in the world today. Norway has been at the forefront of implementing aggressive policies to address climate change and energy preservation. What is your view on the importance of this, especially while the world is recovering from the Pandemic period?

I think it is important that we don’t forget climate change while handling urgent crisis like the pandemic and the war in Ukraine. We have to build back both better and greener and make sure that the investments we make now are compliant with our long-term climate goals. This is no easy task, but climate change is already happening and we will regret it later if we do not act today. And, without India succeeding in this area, the world will not succeed.

What would be your favourite destinations in India?

I wish I could add a lot but the pandemic restricted my travels across India for a long time. As I try to cover as many states as possible now that things are opening up, I hope to have a long list of my favourite Indian destinations and not just one. Again the sheer size and diversity of India make it such a fascinating place to be in. Every travel reveals new gems and experiences I want to return to and get to know better.

What is the road ahead in India-Norway relationship?

The covid pandemic was a big challenge for both our countries. And the travel restrictions that were imposed slowed down many interactions. Now that the pandemic is less of an issue and travel restrictions have been lifted and we have mutual recognition of covid certificates in place I foresee an increase in interactions and a strengthening of bilateral ties. And I see an interest in this from both the government of India and of Norway.

With a mutual appreciation and understanding of each other, both countries are ready and willing to help grow the relationship further. To quote the Indian Foreign Minister, Dr. S Jaishankar: “Our cooperation is green, clean and human-centric”.

Author: Jaun Shahi

Journalist, Sub-Editor, Travellers’ World Jaun is a soft-spoken and gentle soul who thrives as a Journalist with his exceptional observation skills and an eye for intricate details. He is a true multitasker who efficiently handles various tasks and always brings a professional approach to everything he does. His genuine team spirit makes him an integral part of the TW family, as he consistently collaborates and supports his colleagues.