Union Minister for Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, along with His Royal Highness The Crown Prince of Norway, Haakon, inaugurated the India Pavilion at Nor-Shipping 2025 in Oslo—marking India’s first-ever participation at the global maritime summit. The pavilion highlights India's growing maritime capabilities and promotes international cooperation in shipbuilding, port infrastructure, and marine technology.The India Pavilion features major Indian maritime firms such as Cochin Shipyard Ltd, Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers, Goa Shipyard Ltd, and L&T Shipbuilding, alongside MSMEs including Chowgule & Company, Yeoman Marine, and Shoft Shipyard, demonstrating the depth of India's shipping industry.The Crown Prince and Minister Sonowal toured the pavilion together, where the National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) model was showcased. Being developed in Lothal, Gujarat, the NMHC is a flagship initiative to preserve India's 5,000-year maritime history—from the Indus Valley dockyards to the spice trade era.The Crown Prince expressed admiration for India's ancient maritime legacy and took special interest in the NMHC model. He remarked that India's maritime history predates Norway’s own Viking tradition. During the visit, the Crown Prince confirmed plans to visit India later this year with a high-level business delegation.Minister Sonowal presented a commemorative plaque inspired by the Harappan civilisation and extended an invitation for Norway’s partnership in NMHC. He proposed three modes of collaboration:Cultural exchange of maritime artefacts and archivesTechnological cooperation in museum design and digital storytellingAcademic partnerships to promote research in marine archaeology and heritage scienceMinister Sonowal also highlighted strong bilateral ties, noting that Indian seafarers form 10 per cent of crew on Norwegian ships. Indian shipyards have built several large vessels for Norwegian clients, reflecting India’s strength in shipbuilding. The nations also collaborate on marine spatial planning, pollution research, tsunami warning systems, and deep-sea mining through a Joint Task Force on Blue Economy, established in 2019.Earlier in Stavern, Minister Sonowal paid tribute at Norway’s Minnehallen Memorial, becoming the first Indian Minister to do so. He honoured the memory of 94 Indian sailors who served aboard Norwegian ships during World War II, 86 of whom perished in service. Their names are engraved on copper plaques at the site—Norway’s official seafarers' memorial commemorating sacrifices made during both World Wars.Sonowal said, “It is an honour to pay homage to the brave Indian seafarers who stood in solidarity with Norway during the war. Their courage and resilience continue to guide our maritime cooperation today.”