New Delhi: In the premiere episode of the new series ‘The Diplomat’, Aditya Raj Kaul, Executive Editor of TV9 Network, held an insightful discussion with May-Elin Stener, Norway’s Ambassador to India. The series seeks to bridge cultures and shed light on global issues through conversations with various diplomats.
The episode specifically explores the deepening partnership between India and Norway, focusing on areas such as maritime collaboration, space exploration, and initiatives to address climate change. Ambassador Stener highlighted the significance of the “Blue Economy” in enhancing India-Norway relations, underscoring the role of sustainable development and innovation in fortifying their bilateral ties.
Here’s the full text of the interview:
Question: Thank you very much for joining us, ma’am. Let me begin by asking you at the outset about your own experience in India. You have just completed a year. How has the experience really been? You know, India is a big country. You must have traveled in this one year, experienced a lot of culture, vibrance, a lot of food as well. Please tell us about this experience of the last one year.
Answer: Well, thank you so much for, for the opportunity of being here. And I must say this, this last year that I’ve been in India, it has been really enriching. I have traveled to ten states. And, what I must say is Indian, Indian people, they are so warm, so welcoming. So it’s so nice to to be here. As you saying, food is good, but it’s very diverse. It’s a lot of different opportunities. So it’s the culture. There are so many things to learn and it’s such a rich history. So I really enjoy being here.
Question: Amazing. So, you know, in the areas of tourism, of course, Indians love visiting Europe. And we have a lot of, visitors from Europe as well. But talking about Norway, I believe there are about 20 to 30,000 Indians at this moment in Norway. But how is the tourism ties? At this moment, what will be your recommendation for Indians to visit Norway or, the other way around?
Answer: Well, the tourism is increasing both ways. There are more Indian tourists going to Norway. There are more Norwegian tourists going to India. And that is really, really something is, some some good news to come with. So that’s very good. Then the I believe now there are about 20, 25,000, Indians going to Norway and the more or less the same number the, the other way. So, for Norwegians visiting Indian India for the first time, my recommendation would be to see the Taj Mahal, the most beautiful building in the world. And it’s more beautiful in real life than on the pictures. For Indian Indians visiting Norway. I have a bit of an untraditional recommendation, but also it’s my city and I love it. And I really recommend the people to stay to spend some time in that city.
Question: Also, I wanted to ask you, you know, is this your first time in India, or have you been here earlier as well, in diplomatic or personal capacities?
Answer: I have been here at several times in diplomatic capacity. And then I visited, India on the family holiday about, ten years before I came here, as an ambassador.
Question: So, let’s get into the brass tacks of the issues in bilateral ties between India and Norway. You know, on the European trade, free trade association pact, you have said, recently that Norwegian businesses are showing a lot of interest in India. And a manifold increase in cooperation between the two countries is expected in the next ten years. How confident are you on this? Which are the areas that you are, looking at where the scale up in trade in particular will happen, helping both these countries drive this economic cooperation forward?
Answer: Well, I am very confident that trade will increase, the, the trade and economic Partnership, is really the signature of the trade and economic partnership is really a milestone in the relationship between India and Norway and the EFTA countries. Also, and, and I really believe that that will, catalyze, more trade in the next ten years. And the last ten years, we have seen about a 200% increase in trade between Norway and India. And I believe in the next ten years, it will be more.
Question: And which of the areas that you think, would be in particular of interest to Norway?
Answer: The most important areas will be in the field of energy and particularly renewable energy, and then the in all industries related to the oceans.
Question: I see and of course, we know that the India Nordic Summit, is going to happen later this year. This, I believe, if I’m not wrong, is the third, India Nordic Summit. What are the big talking points or areas of consensus, that could be discussed?
Answer: Well, that will be a follow up from the last question. Green growth is the main issue. India is now the most populous country in the world. It’s the fifth largest economy. And it’s, I believe, also the fastest growing economy. So the Nordic countries, it is really important to contribute to this economic development being sustainable, and to, to support India in the Sustainable Development Goals that they have. And that will be the core of the discussions of the summit.
Question: Right. And coming to the people, to people contact. You know, there’s a new Schengen visa regime that has been introduced. And that is also after a lot of complaints by Indians that they face visa rejections. And if they get visa, it’s for a very short duration. So what are the changes that have been introduced in this and in particular, are there more changes expected because, for instance, Indians, when applying for us, they get a ten year visa, or at least five years visa. So could there be some changes? I know that the new regime suggests that if you are applying for the third time, you could get a multiple entry visa for two years. So what are the perhaps confidence building measures on the visa regime for Indians?
Answer: Well, that that is right what you are saying. But let me first say the goal of, of, the facilitation of visas is to increase tourism, to increase business and people to people contact between our two countries. And we receive a lot of applications in our visa section at the embassy. And about 90% of the applications are granted within 15 days. And so most of them, are easy applications. And then it is also right, as you are saying, the new cascade, Schengen cascade, means that if you have traveled two times, to Norway, then you will get, you know, long duration visa. And if you have told more time and even longer duration of visa. So this will get easier.
Question: Another important aspect, in particular between India and Norway is the blue economy for sustainable development. So in this regard, the marine and maritime sector cooperation that is there between the two countries, is the cornerstone of bilateral relationship between the two. So how would you describe this cooperation? And are there any new, announcements or pacts that we could see perhaps in the next round of talks between these two countries?
Answer: Well, blue economy, indeed is, a cornerstone in our relations. So let me just, start with a picture. India are so much bigger than Norway. 263 Indians per, permanent region in this world. And the landmass of India is ten times bigger than Norway. But if you look at the, at the, exclusive economic zone, Norway and India have the same size. That means also that we are big, ocean nation, both of us. And this is a very good basis for good cooperation. And, it has been and it will be in the future. I’m talking about, the Trade and Economic Partnership agreement and what are the, most important areas? It’s indeed the maritime areas, the offshore, and the undersea, underwater, technology that Norway can offer, and India can scale it up. So these are very important issues. And we will also be continue to discuss them in the task force on the economy that we have had since 2019. And that will continue. And we where we will discuss, the strategic issues between, the, between the, our nations
Question: Well, ambassador, earlier this year, you had a visit to the Indian Space Research Organization, the ISRO. How was that experience, really? In the larger context, India, of course, is sending a manned first manned mission. Gaganyaan. How significant do you think is that in also in the backdrop of India and Norway, space cooperation?
Answer: Well, let me first say I was hugely impressed when I visited Isro, earlier this year. I was also hugely impressed, by the moon landing Chandrayaan the last, last year. It happened just a few days before I arrived in the in India. So, you know, what India does here is big, and there the world is looking at that. Norway, and India also have a cooperation on, on this in this field. And we have a small contribution and particularly on the satellites, on the data sharing. I may share with you that in the Arctic islands, Svalbard of Norway, where we can pick up satellites that are much, much cleaner. The signals are much cleaner than anywhere else in the world because it’s so far away from any civilization. And therefore it’s more useful and this, this is also used by Indian researchers, and we have the, cooperation, also there, ISRO has a cooperation with, with some, Norwegian organizations in that, in that regard,
Question: You know, climate change is a global reality. And of course, there’s a huge debate between developed and developing economies. But India and Norway have had very significant ties in the areas of green energy. Of course, solar and wind energy, climate and environment. How important? Frankly, does Norway look at this? And, you know, how significant is this to India, Norway relations as well?
Answer: Well, indeed, this is crucial, as you are mentioning. And as I was mentioning when we talked about the Nordic in the Indian summit, these, these issues are so important. And as you are mentioning and on the Norwegian, Indian, cooperation on maritime energy is the cornerstone of what we are doing. And I was also saying earlier, as an energy superpower, as a maritime big power, a small country like Norway, we have very good developed, very good technology in these areas, that we can offer. And what we can not do is to scale up in the way that is needed. But that’s India can do.
Question: Right. And also, you know, coming to the most important question of all, which is, of course, being debated all across, we are living in a deeply divided world. You know, there are two wars that are underway, more than two and a half years, Russia and Ukraine war. We had the Israel-Hamas conflict with, you know, that’s happening each and every day and no end to the hostage crisis as well. Now, Prime Minister Narendra modi made these two significant visits over the last two months to Russia and Ukraine. Prime Minister from the last two years has been saying that this is not an era of war. And he conveyed to Putin as well, when children were killed in a hospital in Ukraine, that solutions cannot be found in a battlefield. How significant do you think is India’s role in peacebuilding, and how do you see the end, a logical conclusion to the mindless war that is happening between Russia and Ukraine and the aggression?
Answer: Well, let me say first that I agree with the Prime Minister, Modi. This is not an era of war. From the Norwegian point of view, the Russian aggression towards Ukraine is unprecedented. We are also a neighboring country, the Russia. So this is crucial, to, to, to us. But also in the Middle East conflict, Norway advocates solutions based on agreed international law and order. And that has to be the cornerstone when we discuss these issues and when we try to find solutions, we appreciate very much that India is on that scene and that we can work together with India and look to India for solutions.
Question: And, you know, apart from this conflict that is raging and dividing the world, we are seeing a huge debate, on the immigration crisis. You know, there are illegal immigrants, particularly all across the Europe and especially after the war, a lot of Ukrainians also migrating, to several countries into Europe as well. And there are protests happening, particularly we’ve seen what happened in UK, a lot of, far right right wing protests. Also, where does Norway stand on this? And I ask you this especially, who was you yourself before coming to India with the deputy? You know, at the United Nations. And, of course, you served at the headquarters in the humanitarian, you know, role. So how do you see this?
Answer: Well, in Norway, we have received very many, Ukrainian refugees. And since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, now two and a half years ago. And they are very well received in the the Norwegian community. There is no, protest against that. On the contrary, they are welcomed. And then, also I would like to say that, that, in the Middle East conflict, we are very concerned about the refugees, coming out of Palestine. And we are very concerned about the humanitarian crisis caused by that war as well. So we are also trying to contribute. Of course, it would be best if they, if the people could stay where they belong and where they want to stay. But we are also receiving some Palestinians in Norway.
Question: Okay. And finally, now that you completed a year, we saw a very beautiful video of yours on the social media speaking in Hindi. How about some message for Prime Minister Narendra modi or anything that you would like to say in Hindi?
Answer: ‘Main chahti hoon ki hum climate change ki chunauti par kaam karte rahein’ ( I want us to keep tackling the climate change challenge)
Conclusion: Well, that’s the biggest message of all. I think even though the world is divided, there are wars happening, there are conflicts underway. But I think one of the biggest issues, that we are suffering from is, of course, climate change. And this is the message, certainly, ambassador, that resonates with humanity and saving humanity across the world. So thank you very much for ending this on such a beautiful note and wish you all the very best for future. Thank you. Thank you so much.
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