A high-level delegation led by the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Parshottam Rupala along with the Minister of State, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Dr L. Murugan, will be visiting Norway from August 21 to 24 August, 2023.
The delegation will also include the Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries) and other senior officers from the Department of Fisheries.
The main objective of the visit is to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between India and Norway in the field of fisheries and aquaculture, as per the Memorandum of Understanding signed by both countries in March 2010. The delegation will hold bilateral discussions with the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Bjørnar Selnes Skjæran, Kristina Sigursdottir Hansen, and State Secretary, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries, Norway other key officials on various aspects of fisheries development, resource management, research, innovation, and trade.
The delegation will also attend the Aqua Nor 2023, the biannual aquaculture exhibition and trade fair in Trondheim, Norway from the 22nd to the 24th of August, 2023, one of the world's largest trade shows for aquaculture technology and innovation. The exhibition will showcase the latest developments and solutions for sustainable and profitable aquaculture. The delegation will interact with various Norwegian enterprises that have expertise in different aspects of fisheries and aquaculture, such as fish health, feed, genetics, equipment, processing and marketing.
Also, the delegation will visit some of Norway’s state of art facilities related to fisheries and aquaculture, such as fishing vessels, fishing harbours, hatcheries, cage farms, and seafood processing units. The delegation will learn from the Norwegian experience and explore the possibilities of collaboration and investment in these areas.
They will also engage with the Indian diaspora in Norway and apprise them of the initiatives and achievements of the Government of India in the fisheries sector and seek their suggestions and feedback.
The visit is expected to enhance the mutual understanding and bilateral cooperation between India and Norway in the fisheries sector and pave the way for substantial development through partnership in the future.