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Oslo, March 03,
2010 -- Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is visiting
Pakistan today for talks with the Pakistani authorities,
including Prime Minister Gilani and Foreign Minister Qureshi.
“Our
relations with Pakistan are important for Norway. Given the
large number of Norwegians of Pakistani origin and
Pakistan’s key role in its surrounding region, it is
important for the Government to have good contact with the
Pakistani authorities,” Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre
said.
During his
visit, the Foreign Minister will also meet representatives
of the country’s provincial governments and the opposition,
as well as the International Red Cross, Telenor, and
Pakistani commentators. Pakistan occupies a central position
in a region that has become increasingly important to
Norway, among other things due to Norway’s involvement in
Afghanistan.
“Pakistan
plays a key role in the stabilisation of Afghanistan, and it
has suffered great losses in the fighting in the border
areas. I will underscore that we hope that Pakistan can
contribute to finding peaceful solutions in the region. I
will also try to gain greater insight into the humanitarian
consequences of the conflicts in the border areas,” Mr Støre
commented.
Norway is
also supporting Pakistan in the area of development
cooperation, and it participates in the group Friends of
Democratic Pakistan. The main priority areas for Norwegian
development assistance to Pakistan are education, health and
good governance.
On other
hand, Norway and India have entered into an agreement on
cooperation in the areas of fisheries and aquaculture. “Our
long-term ambition is that India will be a major new market
for Norwegian fish,” Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said
today, after signing the agreement during his official visit
to New Delhi.
The agreement
that has been concluded sets out the institutional framework
for aquaculture cooperation between Norway and India. India
is among the ten largest seafood producers in the world, and
half of its production is from fish farming.
“Norway has
considerable expertise in the field of aquaculture, and
there is great potential for cooperation with India in this
sector,” Foreign Minister Støre commented.
Norway and
India have also concluded negotiations on a taxation
agreement and a social security agreement, which are to be
signed this spring and which will give companies interested
in investing in India more predictable framework conditions.
“There is
increasing competition for Asia’s attention. In order for
Norway to further its interests in the best possible way in
the future, we must forge strong economic and political ties
to the new Asia,” Mr Støre said. A growing number of
Norwegian companies are establishing themselves in India,
and the Foreign Minister met representatives from Telenor,
Aker Solutions, DNV and SN Power, among others.
“It is
important that Norwegian companies in India focus on their
corporate social responsibility, and my impression is that
the Norwegian companies I have met here today place great
emphasis on CSR,” Mr Støre said.
In addition
to focusing on the framework conditions for Norwegian
companies, Mr Støre took part in political talks during his
visit to New Delhi. During his meeting with Foreign Minister
Krishna, the international climate negotiations, the WTO,
and developments in Afghanistan were discussed.
“Norway and
India share an interest in promoting a stable and democratic
Afghanistan. India is a key actor in the region, and I was
very interested in my Indian colleague’s analysis of the
situation,” said Mr Støre.
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