Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Oslo on 19 May 2026 for a landmark visit to Norway — the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 43 years — with members of the Indian diaspora expressing pride and enthusiasm ahead of his engagements with the Norwegian leadership and Nordic counterparts.

Diaspora Sentiment: Pride and High Expectations

Several members of the Indian community in Norway voiced their excitement over the visit, calling it a moment of national pride. 'It is very good that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is coming. The Prime Minister has been doing good work so far, and hopefully, he will continue to do so in the future,' one community member said.

Another noted the strategic timing of the visit: 'At a time when the world is facing challenges related to oil, gas, and natural resources, Norway can support India in many ways. He is visiting countries where previous Prime Ministers had not gone. The Indian community here is very happy.'

A third member described the visit as a matter of 'great pride' for all Indians living in Norway, calling it 'an opportunity for both Norway and India' as a representative of 1.5 billion Indians stepped onto Norwegian soil.

Key Bilateral Agenda

During the visit, PM Modi is scheduled to call on King Harald V and Queen Sonja, and hold bilateral talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. The two leaders will also jointly address the India-Norway Business and Research Summit.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the visit will focus on trade and investment, clean and green technology, and the blue economy. A key priority is capitalising on the India-EFTA Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEPA). Bilateral trade between India and Norway stood at approximately $2.73 billion in 2024, while Norway's Government Pension Fund (GPFG) holds close to $28 billion in investments in the Indian capital market.

The 3rd India-Nordic Summit

The centrepiece of the Oslo visit is the 3rd India-Nordic Summit, scheduled for 19 May 2026. PM Modi will be joined by the Prime Ministers of Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, and Sweden — Jonas Gahr Store, Mette Frederiksen, Petteri Orpo, Kristrun Frostadottir, and Ulf Kristersson respectively.

The Summit builds on earlier editions held in Stockholm in April 2018 and Copenhagen in May 2022. This edition is expected to impart a more strategic dimension to India-Nordic ties, covering technology and innovation, green transition, renewable energy, sustainability, blue economy, defence, space, and the Arctic.

Broader Trade and Supply Chain Significance

The MEA noted that the visit will also provide an impetus to India's bilateral trade with the five Nordic countries, which collectively stood at USD 19 billion in 2024. Officials expect the engagements to help build resilient supply chains in the context of both the India-EU Free Trade Agreement and the India-EFTA TEPA.

Notably, this is the first time an Indian Prime Minister has visited Norway in over four decades — a gap that the diaspora and officials alike see as an opportunity to reset and deepen a relationship with significant untapped potential.

With the Nordic Summit and bilateral meetings set for 19 May, the outcomes of Modi's Oslo visit are expected to shape India's northern European engagement for years ahead.