Your Excellency Mr Jonas Gahr Store, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Shri N.S. Sisodia Director General IDSA, Mr Sven Holtsmark, Deputy Director, Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies (IFS), senior members of armed forces, ladies and gentlemen.

I am delighted to be present here today and to inaugurate the second bilateral dialogue between the scholars of two prestigious think-tanks in our two countries. I am also delighted to come to IDSA in its new campus. I am happy to notice its impressive infrastructure. I am pleased to note IDSA has grown in strength and is making useful contributions in debates on India’s security policy. IDSA experts are respected in the community of scholars and policy makers in India and abroad. Its flagship journals Strategic Analysis and Journal of Defence Studies are widely read and its web site is one of the most visited web sites in the strategic affairs in the world. These achievements over the years could not have been possible without the commitment and dedication of the people working in this national institution. I am hopeful that in the coming years IDSA will continue to make important contributions in illuminating policy issues in the security sector. The contributions of IDSA and wider strategic community will be of great significance in the years to come especially keeping in view the complex nature of the emerging world order.

I am particularly delighted to be present here with His Excellency Mr Store and his colleagues from Norway. Keeping in view the special relations between India and Norway it is my privilege to share some thoughts with you on this occasion.

Historically, India and Norway have had very special and friendly relations. Norway is a unique country, small in size but large in its global footprint. During most of the post Second World War years, Norway has played an important role in the global affairs offering its good offices and resources to promotion of peace in conflict zones. It has regularly come to the aid of people in the distant lands in Asia, Africa, East Europe and Latin America. It is one of the most active and generous supporters of the United Nations. It is a nation which respects nature and is environment friendly. Caring for nature is part of the daily lives of Norwegian people.

I had the opportunity in my last avatar as a business executive to live in that beautiful country. I have fond memories of Norwegian natural habitat and its affectionate society. Norway is also known for its business community who operate globally with ethical practices that are exemplary. It is also home to many innovative knowledge institutions in business, academia and think-tanks. Scholars from one such institution are present here amongst us. The others in the international relations field, such as the Peace Research Institute Oslo and Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) are among the best names in the field of peace research and security studies. I am pleased that India and Norwegian scholars are getting to work together on issues of common concerns. This would help them develop shared understandings on issues of global and local concern. I congratulate IDSA and IFS scholars for this partnership in their endeavours and wish them the very best.

The cooperation between Norwegian and Indian research institutions would be of growing significance keeping in view the expanding relations between Norway and India. In recent years, both our governments are working together to enhance the bilateral cooperation in a range of sectors such as political dialogue on global governance, business and economy, social development and health, culture and security.

Both India and Norway have interest in reforming the global governance structures. The transformation of global institutions has become necessary to manage the emerging world order. The current institutional arrangements in some instances are not sufficiently representative of the global realities. The complexity of the globalizing world would need institutions that have both resources and legitimacy to perform their roles and missions. One such Institution is the United Nations. I am happy to note Norway has consistently supported India’s calls for reforms and inclusion of India in the expanded United Nations Security Council.

India and Norway have been cooperating with the global community on other issues of importance such as anti-piracy, UN peace keeping, climate change, and conflict resolution and disaster relief. Norway is often called a peace nation. A self-image it has constructed for itself painstakingly in the post war period. Its efforts like our own have not been always successful but that does not detract from Norway’s abiding interest and commitment for a peaceful world.

As I said earlier, Norway has some of the best practices in the environment protection and preservation of nature. India too has its experience in protection of its natural habitat in the face growing challenges. Considering the increasing threat posed by Climate change, our two countries could work together to promote climate research and share best practices in mitigation. We could work in the global forums to promote equitable policy interventions.

India and Norway have shared interest in promotion of a peaceful world order. We have a rich experience in peace keeping missions abroad. We have an interest to work together in developing best practices and education of peace keepers.

Norway has been an aid provider for a long time. Its rich experience in this area should be useful for India whose own aid programmes are increasing. India and Norway could promote research and scholarship that would be useful to policy makers looking for innovative ideas to increase efficiency and effectiveness. We could find opportunities to work together in the global arena.

Norway is an exemplar in the social security sector. It is an example of a good society. India has its own experiences in promotion of socio-economic equity. We have good reasons to develop forums for exchange of views and perspectives.

`Norway has an admirable track record in corporate governance and business ethics. It is also home to one of the finest business schools in the world. In recent years, Indian businesses are paying increasing attention to corporate governance and business ethics. Considering the scale and complexity of Indian economy, developing best practices would be of critical importance in coming years. Learning from the experience of other nations such as Norway would be very useful for sustainability of our economic growth from the long term perspective. Indian and Norwegian researchers should work together to develop comparative perspectives that might illuminate the issues of mutual concern in this sector.

As the Indian and Norwegian business interactions multiply in the coming years, it would be imperative that we develop forums for mutual understanding on issues that would impact upon the long term economic prospects for both our nations.

For this to happen, it is important that we create shared understandings in the foreign policy domain. In this context, I am gratified to note the growing interest in Norway on India. Norway like many other advanced societies is showing interest in India’s foreign and security concerns. I am told that the Norwegian Research council is making concerted efforts to promote research on India in cultural, education, technology, business and security sectors. This I think is only natural considering the growing economic footprint of India. Norwegian policy makers like their counter parts in other countries are developing strategies and programmes to engage India in social, economic and security dimensions. I welcome these developments which promote better understanding and pave the way for constructive cooperation. As India’s economy grows in an interdependent and globalizing world, the nations of the world will have stakes in our stability and security. As a consequence, our foreign policy will get increasing attention from the global community. In this context, well developed academic and research programmes in other countries should help promote better understanding of India’s intentions, vision and policies for a better world.

The initiatives such as research cooperation between IDSA and IFS along with IDSA’s cooperation with PRIO is a good beginning in fostering relations between think-tanks and the policy elite. I am happy to inaugurate this bilateral seminar. I wish all the participants good luck and look forward to reading your recommendations and suggestions.

Thank you.

Jai Hind.