PANJIM: A 22-member-strong Norwegian delegation, which includes industry captains and businesspersons, led by the Consul General of Norway, Ann Ollestad is in the State on a three-day visit to explore business and trade possibility between Goa and Norway.
The Consul General of Norway has already met the Chief Secretary of Goa, Dharmendra Sharma on Monday and had discussion on issues related to skill development in maritime sector, solid waste management, etc. During their stay, the delegation also has plans to meet senior government officials, including the Chief Minister, Parrikar. They will also meet with officials of Goa Shipyard Limited, National Institute of Oceanography etc.
Both Norway and Goa have many things in common specially proximity to maritime activities. More than 80 per cent of the Norwegian population of nearly five million stays not more than 20 kilometers off the coastline.
“We have expertise and most modern technologies in maritime issues, defence, surveillance equipments, solid waste management especially micro plastics and we hope that we can share our expertise with this beautiful State. We have a huge business delegation accompanying us, which is already working with the Gujarat government and have shown keen interest in Goa,” said the Consul General of Norway, Ann Ollestad exclusively to Herald.
For the first time the Norwegian government has come out with a white paper on the seas and oceans in their country’s foreign and development policy. The aim is to highlight the opportunities the ocean has to offer to Norway and the challenges they deal with, specially safeguarding their coastal belt.
“Goa can really make big headway in using the inland waterways and coastline to connect by making sure that the coastline is clean, safe and productive in terms of offshore resources. In all these sectors, Norway has a lot of competence and that is why the Consul General has brought this delegation to Goa along with her,” Svein Michelsen, senior advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway told Herald.
The delegation includes experts in maritime cluster which is a combination of shipyards, skills, surveillance, maritime financing, certification of environment sustainability. “One of Norway’s strength is to combine different technology into one approach into maritime sector. Since we are representing the Norwegian government we are very optimistic that Goa will exchange good notes with us to take the business forward,” added the Consul General Ann Ollestad.