Oslo: In a historic first, India made its debut at Nor-Shipping, one of the world’s leading maritime events, with the inauguration of the India Pavilion by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway. The event marked a significant step in India’s maritime diplomacy, showcasing the country’s growing capabilities, maritime heritage, and ambition to lead in global ocean-based development.
Jointly inaugurated by the Union Minister and the Norwegian Crown Prince, the India Pavilion is a vibrant showcase of India’s robust maritime ecosystem. Featuring major public sector shipyards like Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), and Goa Shipyard Ltd, along with MSME players such as Chowgule & Company, Marine Electricals, Shoft Shipyard, and SWAN Defense, the Pavilion is aimed at forging global alliances and technological collaborations.
During the walkthrough, Sonowal presented a model of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) to Crown Prince Haakon, who was visibly impressed. The NMHC, being developed at Lothal in Gujarat, aims to preserve and present India’s 5,000-year-old maritime legacy, from the Indus Valley Civilization to contemporary times. The Crown Prince acknowledged India’s rich maritime past, remarking that “India’s four thousand years old maritime history is older than Norwegian Viking maritime tradition.”
Addressing the gathering, Sarbananda Sonowal emphasized that India’s maritime development is grounded in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of “Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi” — development as well as heritage.
“Under Hon’ble PM Narendra Modi ji’s leadership, we are building not just smart ports and digital infrastructure but also restoring the wisdom of our ancient seafarers and shipbuilders,” Sonowal said. “The NMHC at Lothal will serve as a global platform to celebrate this dual legacy.”
The Union Minister also presented the Crown Prince with a commemorative plaque inspired by the Harappan civilization and extended an invitation for his visit to India later this year, where he is expected to be accompanied by a high-level business delegation.
Highlighting India’s desire for a deeper partnership with Norway, Sonowal proposed a three-pronged collaboration for the NMHC:
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Cultural Collaboration: Through joint exhibitions, maritime artefact exchanges, and storytelling of Indo-Nordic navigation history.
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Technological Collaboration: Leveraging Norway’s expertise in museum design, sustainability, and digital heritage curation.
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Academic & Institutional Collaboration: Facilitating joint research in marine archaeology, traditional shipbuilding, and conservation.
“This is not just a heritage project—it is a living bridge between our civilisations, built on mutual respect, shared innovation, and a common maritime vision,” Sonowal noted.
India and Norway share a strong and growing maritime relationship. Norwegian shipowners maintain offices in India, with Indian seafarers comprising 10% of their crew. Indian shipyards, such as Cochin Shipyard, have delivered large vessels to Norwegian companies. The nations also collaborate on marine spatial planning, deep-sea mining, pollution monitoring, and early warning systems.
The Joint Task Force on Blue Economy, formed in 2019, continues to drive sustainable maritime development, positioning both countries as leaders in the global blue economy.
In a solemn and historic gesture, Sarbananda Sonowal became the first Indian Minister to visit the Minnehallen Memorial in Stavern, Norway, to honour Indian sailors who sacrificed their lives during World War II.
“It is an honour to pay tribute to the brave 94 Indian sailors who served during World War II. Their resilience and sacrifice continue to inspire us as we strengthen our maritime ties,” Sonowal said after laying a wreath at the memorial.
Most of the Indian seafarers hailed from Punjab, Bengal, and Goa, and at least 86 Indian sailors lost their lives serving aboard Norwegian merchant vessels. Their names are now enshrined on copper plaques in the Seamen’s Memorial Hall, Norway’s official maritime war memorial.
