Embassy of India
Oslo
PRESS RELEASE
1. Shri Parshottam Rupala, Hon'ble Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy and Dr L Murugan, Hon'ble Minister of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairy visited Norway on August 21-24 on the invitation of Norwegian Ministry of Trade, Industries and Fisheries. They attended the biennial AquaNor Exhibition at Trondheim and interacted with enterprises which had displayed some Innovative and latest technologies and equipment related to aquaculture.
2. In Trondheim, the Ministers also held bilateral discussions with Mr Bjornar Selnes Skjaeran, Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy and Ms Kristina Siguardsdottir Hansen, State Secretary, Norwegian Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy and discussed opportunities for future cooperation and collaboration among business houses. Mr Skjaeran congratulated Hon’ble Minister on the historic landing of Lunar lander on the South Pole of Moon. Hon’ble Minister also extended invitation to his Norwegian counterpart to visit India.
3. The Indian delegation led by Hon’ble Minister visited AquaGen on 21st August. It is a Norwegian research oriented breeding company which develops, manufactures and delivers genetic starter material and fertilised fish eggs to the global aquaculture industry. Opportunities for joint collaboration with Indian stakeholders were explored and discussed with Mr Knut Roflo, CEO, AquaGen. A presentation on salmon breeding was made by Mr Matias Medina, Director of breeding R&D at AquaGen.
4. The Indian delegation was also briefed at NTNU SeaLab by professors Kjell Inge Reitan and Bengt Finstad. NTNU SeaLab is an interdisciplinary research center in Ocean Science and Technology. NTNU is Norway’s largest university on science and technology.
5. The Indian delegation also visited ScaleAQ, a leading global company which supplies innovative technology and equipment in aquaculture field. Hon’ble Ministers interacted with senior management of ScaleAQ, including CEO Mr Geir Myklebust. Detailed presentations and demonstrations were made on taking up aquaculture in Fish farms, cages and in hatcheries. Ministers also visited Skansen, harbour area in Trondheim. ScaleAQ organised a tour of their cage facility with feeding barges and support vessels at the harbour.
6. Hon’ble Ministers also visited stalls at the exhibition area. Interestingly, during the tour of Exhibition, at the stall of the AkerBiomarine, one of the largest biotech innovator and Antarctic krill-harvesting company, the final stage of descend of Chandrayaan-3 was screened which was applauded by all those who were present. Hon’ble Minister also thanked Matts Johansen, CEO of AkerBiomarine and others for organizing it. Hon’ble Minister then addressed the Norwegian media and expressed his happiness for achieving this extraordinary feat. He also responded to media’s queries regarding India’s plan to expand its global footprint in aquaculture and fisheries.
7. On 23rd August, Ministers led delegation travelled in a passenger ferry and Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB) from Trondheim to Hitra, an island near Trondheim, to visit open sea hatcheries and fish farms of Leroy, one of the largest producers of salmon using latest aquaculture technologies and equipment. They visited their smolt production facility in Belsvik, Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS) at Storskogøya and their advanced seafood processing facility at Jøsnøya.
8. On 24th August, while travelling back to Oslo, Hon’ble Ministers and delegation were hosted by Mr Kanwaldeep Singh Kamboj, Councilor from Asker Commune. A visit to Gurdwara in Lier-Drammen took place and visit to some of the agricultural farms were also organised by Mr. Kanwaldeep singh.
9. In the evening of 24th August, Hon’ble Ministers addressed a large gathering of Pravasi Bharatis in Oslo and interacted with them. His address was well received by the Indian community. The Ministers also interacted with some of the community leaders and enquired about well being of Pravasi Bharatis in Norway and how to strengthen bond with India and work towards the mutual benefit of both countries.
10.On 25th August, Mr Himanshu Gulati, Hon’ble Member of Norwegian Storting (Parliament) welcomed the Indian delegation in Storting in Oslo and discussed about enhanced India Norway bilateral engagement.
11.In his engagements with Norwegian companies, Hon’ble Minister Rupala apprised them about recent positive changes in domestic regulations to facilitate better trade in the field of fisheries and aquaculture and invited them to invest in the fisheries and other sector and transfer the latest technologies. He also requested them to partner with Indian research institutes and private sector to exchange new ideas and knowledge.
25th August 2023
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