A delegation of top Norwegian companies has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address “ground level challenges” and ease regulatory frameworks that continue to hinder smooth business operations in India.
The interaction took place during Modi’s official visit to Norway, where he met with CEOs and senior representatives from over 20 Norwegian firms with significant exposure to the Indian market.
What Norwegian businesses said
In a closed-door roundtable, business leaders acknowledged India’s economic growth and recent reforms but pointed to persistent implementation gaps.
“Policy announcements are progressive, but ground level challenges remain. Clearance processes, tax interpretations, and compliance burdens vary from state to state. This creates uncertainty,” said the India head of a major Norwegian renewable energy firm.
Specific concerns raised included:
- Delays in customs clearances at ports
- Inconsistent application of goods and services tax (GST) rules across states
- Lengthy dispute resolution mechanisms for commercial contracts
- Difficulties in repatriating profits due to layered banking compliance
The ease of doing business gap
India has risen significantly in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business rankings over the past decade. However, Norwegian executives noted that global indices do not fully capture the “last mile” difficulties that foreign companies face on the ground.
“The gap between policy intent and field implementation is still wide. We need predictability, not just speed,” said the CEO of a Norwegian maritime technology firm.
Request for single-window clearance
Several businesses called for a truly functional single-window clearance system at both central and state levels.
“Today, even after getting central approval, we have to run to multiple state departments – environment, labor, pollution control. Each has its own timeline. This delays projects by years,” another executive added.
The delegation also requested faster visa processing for Norwegian technical experts who need to travel to India for equipment installation and maintenance.
Modi’s response
Prime Minister Modi listened to the concerns and assured the delegation that the government is committed to addressing these issues. He invited Norwegian businesses to partner in India’s green energy, shipbuilding, and aquaculture sectors – areas where Norway has deep expertise.
Modi also noted that the government has launched a new portal for foreign investor grievances and is working on standardizing state-level business rules through the ‘One Nation, One Compliance’ initiative.
Norway’s growing economic interest in India
Bilateral trade between India and Norway stood at approximately 2.5billionin2025.Norwegianpensionfundsandsovereignwealthfundshaveinvestedover15 billion in Indian equities, renewable projects, and infrastructure.
Major Norwegian companies present in India include:
- DNV (maritime and energy certification)
- Scatec (solar power)
- Yara International (fertilizers)
- Kongsberg (defence and maritime systems)
- Statkraft (hydropower)
What happens next
Following the interaction, Norwegian Business Association India (NBAI) announced that it will submit a detailed white paper to the Indian government listing specific regulatory bottlenecks and recommended solutions.
The Indian side has agreed to a quarterly review mechanism with Norwegian companies to track progress on the issues raised.
Analysts believe that if India addresses these ground-level challenges, Norwegian investment in India could double within three years, particularly in green hydrogen and offshore wind.
