The Prime Minister’s address (via video) at the signing ceremony of the free trade agreement between EFTA and India

As delivered

Dear colleagues,
Distinguished guests,
Dear friends,

As Prime Minister of Norway it is a great honour for me to congratulate you all, and also to thank you – the excellent teams on both sides – for your dedicated work through many years and many rounds of negotiations. – And you have really reached a great result.

We have reached a historic agreement together, a trade agreement for our times that paves the way for a common path forward. – A path defined by mutual goals, mutual benefits, such as sustainable growth, jobs and development, innovation and thus, prosperity for all.

I am certain that we will complement each other through more trade, more investments and better technological development.

Now, this agreement is not only about trade, numbers, tariffs and commodity codes, it is also about trust, friendship, partnership, and a shared future. – A common future where we have to deal with climate change and energy transition, for the good of our people.

Norway and our EFTA Partners have been waiting for this day. We know what India is today, what India will be, and we see what India is set to become:

• The world’s largest population,
• An economy shifting into top gear,
• A technological powerhouse,
• And a country playing a decisive role in shaping tomorrow’s sustainable society, in Asia and globally.

So, it took time to reach this agreement. It often does. Because the agreement is a good one, an important one. Because it goes further than most such agreements in its inclusion of commitments to sustainability, equality and labour rights. And, it opens doors not just to trade, but also to investments.

For my country – Norway, the agreement is therefore of a special order, not only because India is India – Incredible India – a forward-looking economic giant and a market in a league of its own. I do also believe that Norway – our businesses, industries, our ideas and know-how – are a perfect match for India. We are world leaders in areas that India has made top of the list, such as clean energy, green shipping, smart infrastructure, sustainable production and design.

So, friends, with this agreement Norway and the EFTA countries partner up with one of the players that will truly dominate the global field, economically, technologically – and in terms of making real the promise of sustainability.

In return, India will get from us exactly what is needed: investments in some of tomorrow’s critical fields.

So, dear friends, all of you, distinguished guests, my heartfelt congratulations from Oslo: This is a milestone in our relationship with India, and for our many businesses, industries and innovators eager to work more with Indian partners.

Thank you for your attention, and may we all be praised with luck.