Both sides also discussed various bilateral topics

India and Norway discussed ways to improve trade and investment cooperation based on strong political ties during the 9th round of Foreign Office Consultations in Oslo on Thursday.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), specific areas of collaboration included clean energy, environment and climate change, blue economy for sustainable development, shipping and maritime, higher education, science and technology, arctic and polar research and space.

Both sides discussed bilateral, regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest, the MEA added.

The two sides discussed regional concerns such as the EU, the war in Ukraine, Afghanistan, as well as developments in India's neighbourhood and the Indo-Pacific. They also emphasised the need for UNSC reform and spoke about their respective priorities in global fora, counterterrorism, and terrorist listing.

"Both sides expressed satisfaction at the current momentum of India-Norway relations," the MEA said.

MEA's Secretary (West) Sanjay Verma, co-chaired the consultations from the Indian side Secretary General Tore Hattrem co-chaired from Norway's side. They agreed to hold the next round of Consultations at the earliest mutually convenient date in the first half of 2023 in India, the MEA said.