A high-level delegation led by Shri Parshottam Rupala, Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, GoI along with Dr L. Murugan, Minister of State, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, and Ms. Neetu Kumari Prasad, Joint Secretary (Marine Fisheries), Department of Fisheries visited Norway.

The delegation participated in the Aqua Nor 2023 Exhibition and interacted with the foreign Delegates with the vision to strengthen the bilateral cooperation between India and Norway in the field of fisheries and aquaculture.

The second day of the exhibition began with the visit of the Belsvik, Norway, where the delegation witnessed the smolt production facility of the Norwegian company, Lerøy, at its onshore Recirculation Aquaculture System (RAS).

Moving further, the high level delegation also visited Leroy’s salmon hatcheries at Storskogoya, Norway. Aquaculture is second largest industry in Norway and private companies in the country have set up nearly 1000 farms in off shore areas.

After their Salmon Hatchery visit, the delegation visited the site of full-scale aquaculture facility namely, SINTEF ACE. It is a full-scale laboratory facility designed to develop and test new aquaculture technologies. It was discussed that at the lab, researchers can conduct practical experiments and tests, both under optimally controlled and realistic conditions.

After site visit, the delegation visited the Aqua Nor, 2023 Exhibition at Trondheim Spektrum and interacted with the participating enterprises and discussed the opportunities for future collaborations. 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 landing of Chandrayaan-3 was screened which was applauded by all those who were present. Shri Skjaeran congratulated Minister on the historic landing of Lunar lander on the South Pole of Moon. It was coincidental that the Norwegian side had arranged the meeting in the room named ‘Luna’ and took the opportunity to take a picture of both Ministers with moon in the background.

Moving further, Shri Parshottam Rupala and Dr L. Murugan along with other senior officers  visited Clarion Hotel Trondheim, Brattørkaia, Trondheim for Bilateral Meetings with Shri Bjørnar Skjæran, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy, Shri Yngve Torgersen, DG, Aquaculture Department, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries(MTIF), Mrs. Astrid Holtan, Director,Trade Policy Department, MTIF, Mrs. Ragnhild Moritz-Olsen, Advisor, Trade Policy, Department, MTIF, Mr. Cristian Valdes Carter,Director India & Commercial, Counsellor, Innovation Norway. They discussed issues related with bilateral cooperation in the fields of fisheries and aquaculture. Minister also invited his Norwegian counterpart to visit India at a mutually convenient time.

Shri Parshottam Rupala had a media interaction at the exhibition, where he appreciated the organisers of AquaNor. He stated that he could see some latest technologies in this Exhibition. He also appreciated Shri Bjornar Selena Skjaeran, Minister of Fisheries and Ocean Policy for his interactions in the last two days. Replying to a question, he said that India has world’s second largest aquaculture production and is aiming to be global leader. He shared that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi a separate Ministry has been created for fisheries and increased budget has been allocated to look into the welfare of more than 28 million fishermen in India. Dr. L Murugan was also present at the media interaction.

The delegation expects to establish and strengthen bilateral ties between India and Norway in the field of fisheries by ardently participating in one of the world's largest trade fairs for aquaculture technology and innovation.

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SS/SM