India, Norway to cooperate in shipping sector

New Delhi, Nov 2: India and Norway have agreed to start negotiations for a bilateral maritime agreement and explore opportunities of cooperation in the emerging area of offshore shipping.

This was agreed at a meeting Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Minister T. R. Baalu had with his Norgwegian counterpart Dag Terje Andersen here yesterday.

Mr Andersen was accompanied by Mr. Per Sanderud, Secretary General, Ministry of Trade and Industry, and other senior officials of the Norwegian Government.

Mr Baalu appreciated the Norwegian proposal to start the negotiations for considering the maritime agreement between the two countries and it was agreed that experts from both India and Norway would meet early next year to thrash out the issue.

The Norwegian side also commended the quality of services being provided by the Indian officers on their ships and evinced interest in enhancing cooperation in maritime training.

In this context, Mr Baalu informed the delegation about the setting up of a Maritime University in Tamil Nadu to further improve the facilities of maritime education and research.

During the meeting, it was also agreed that the two sides would explore opportunities of cooperation in the emerging area of offshore shipping, recognising the Norwegian expertise in this area.

UNI