Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to meet with Jonas Ghar Store, the Prime Minister of Norway, and engage in bilateral discussions with Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg and Minister for Trade and Industry Cecilie Myrseth during her two-day visit to Oslo. Additionally, she will participate in a roundtable session with Norwegian CEOs and investors, as well as connect with the diaspora at a community gathering, as per the Finance Ministry’s announcement.
During her recent visit to Germany, Sitharaman had fruitful interactions with top leaders and industrialists, focusing on enhancing bilateral trade relations within the context of the EU-India FTA deal. In Munich, she met with Keith Svendsen, the CEO of APM Terminals, who highlighted Maersk’s enduring partnership with India and its significant investments in the country’s maritime sector.
Furthermore, discussions encompassed India’s reform initiatives, particularly in deregulation and improving the ease of doing business, along with recent budgetary announcements like those related to container manufacturing. The advantages of the recently finalized India-EU FTA were also deliberated, emphasizing the potential market openings and benefits for businesses on both sides in the future.
In another meeting, Finance Minister Sitharaman engaged with Lars Klingbeil, the Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance in Germany, reflecting on the strengthened bilateral relations following the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier this year. Klingbeil underscored the significance of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) for trade and investments in India, particularly highlighting areas such as bilateral development cooperation and the expansion of the Metro rail network in India.
Sitharaman also shared insights on India’s successful digital payment systems and expressed a willingness to exchange best practices on the country’s digital infrastructure with Germany. Additionally, she met with Brigitte Haas, the Prime Minister of Liechtenstein, and Alois Philipp Maria, the Hereditary Prince of Liechtenstein, during her visit to Munich.
