Delhi: In a moment for Indo-Norwegian maritime relations, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, and Crown Prince Haakon of Norway jointly inaugurated the India Pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Oslo.
Marking India’s debut at this premier global maritime event, the pavilion has been set up to showcase the country’s maritime capabilities and foster international partnerships. One of the main high spot of the pavilion was the full model of the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) being developed at Lothal in Gujarat, which drew excited praise from the Crown Prince. He said that India’s four-thousand-year-old maritime history predates even the famed Viking traditions of Norway.
Addressing the gathering, Sonowal highlighted the importance of linking India’s ancient maritime legacy with modern technological progressions. “Under the visionary leadership of Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, India is advancing a maritime mission that balances ancient heritage with cutting-edge innovation. The NMHC demonstrates this dual spirit, aligning with the PM’s guiding philosophy of ‘Vikas Bhi, Virasat Bhi’ Development as well as Heritage,” he stated.
He highlighted that the NMHC is intended as a world-class institution to preserve and endorse India’s maritime history, from the Indus Valley Civilization to the present day.
Seeking Norway’s teamwork in the NMHC project, the Union Minister proposed a three-pronged partnership cultural exchange through artefacts and exhibitions; technological cooperation in areas such as museum design and sustainability; and academic collaboration between Indian and Norwegian institutions to promote research in maritime archaeology and conservation science. Sonowal noted that this initiative is not just a project but a “living bridge” between the two civilisations, representing shared innovation and a common vision for a sustainable maritime future.
Crown Prince Haakon, impressed by India’s recent economic performance and robust annual growth of over 8 percent, long-established his upcoming visit to India in 2025, accompanied by a high-level business designation.
As a sign of goodwill, Sonowal obtainable the Crown Prince with a commemorative plaque inspired by the Harappan civilisation and lengthy an invitation to visit the NMHC in Gujarat.
The India Pavilion features participation from leading Indian maritime companies including Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Ltd (GRSE), Goa Shipyard Ltd, Mandovi Dry Docks, and L&T Shipbuilding. Several MSMEs in the maritime sector such as Chowgule & Company, Yeoman Marine Services, Shoft Shipyard, Marine Electricals, and Buoyancy Consultants also showcased their expertise, stress the depth and diversity of India’s maritime industry.
Emphasising the strong two-sided ties between India and Norway, Sonowal noted that Norwegian ship owners employ Indian seafarers in about 10 percent of their vessel crews and that Indian shipyards have built several Norwegian vessels. He added that the teamwork between the two nations has lengthy into the blue economy, including joint initiatives in marine spatial planning, tsunami early warning systems, pollution control, and deep-sea mining.
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The Joint Task Force on Blue Economy, formed in 2019, lasts to ease novelty and sustainable maritime development.
In a moving moment during his visit to Norway, Sarbananda Sonowal became the first Indian minister to visit the Minnehallen Memorial in Stavern. The memorial, Norway’s national tribute to seafarers who lost their lives during the First and Second World Wars, includes the names of 86 Indian sailors who served and sacrificed their lives aboard Norwegian merchant ships during World War II. These Indian seafarers, many of whom hailed from Punjab, Bengal, and Goa, formed the third-largest group of foreign nationals in the Norwegian merchant navy during the war.
Paying his respects, Sonowal stated, “It is an honour to visit the Minnehallen Memorial and pay tribute to the brave Indian sailors who helped with bravery and sacrifice during World War II. Their legacy rouses in us to reinforce maritime ties and support their spirit of resilience.” The names of these sailors are inscribed on copper plaques related in the memorial’s crypt, which contains over 8,000 such tributes. The visit not only honoured a shared history of expense but also reinforced the lasting maritime promise between India and Norway.
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