Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, and Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon inaugurated the India Pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Oslo, marking India’s debut at this global maritime summit. The pavilion showcases India’s expanding maritime capabilities, emphasizing international collaboration in shipbuilding, port infrastructure, and marine technology. Notable Indian firms, including Cochin Shipyard Ltd and L&T Shipbuilding, alongside MSMEs, represent the country’s robust shipping industry.
During their tour, the Crown Prince and Minister Sonowal highlighted the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) model, under development in Lothal, Gujarat. This initiative aims to preserve India’s 5,000-year maritime history, from ancient dockyards to the spice trade era. The Crown Prince expressed admiration for India’s maritime legacy, noting its precedence over Norway’s Viking tradition, and confirmed plans to visit India later this year with a business delegation.
Minister Sonowal extended an invitation for Norway’s partnership in the NMHC, proposing collaboration in cultural exchanges, technological cooperation in museum design, and academic partnerships in marine archaeology. He also emphasized strong bilateral ties, highlighting that Indian seafarers constitute 10% of crews on Norwegian ships and that Indian shipyards have built significant vessels for Norway.
Earlier, Sonowal paid tribute at Norway’s Minnehallen Memorial, honoring 94 Indian sailors who served on Norwegian ships during World War II, 86 of whom perished. He stated, “It is an honor to pay homage to the brave Indian seafarers who stood in solidarity with Norway during the war.”
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