» Discussion on “The implications of a Free Trade Agreement between India and Norway”
India is presently negotiating Free Trade Agreements with close to twenty countries, in secrecy, behind closed doors. Many of these negotiations, especially with the Global North, include far reaching liberalisation provisions, not only in trade in goods and services, but stretching themselves to include investment, government procurement, intellectual property rights.

We invite you for a discussion on “The implications of a Free Trade Agreement between India and Norway”, with the participation of Aksel Naerstad, from the Norwegian Trade Campaign, on Thursday July 30th, 3pm, at the Intercultural Resources office (see below for directions).

Norway is one of the members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), which includes three more European countries, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland. EFTA is a block, primarily created for negotiating Free Trade Agreements with other parties. At a time when India is also negotiating a FTA with the European Union- a major economic power, EFTA is seen as a smaller player. But the rules of FTA negotiations are such that the outcome will be an opening of the economy; and it is important to understand the implications.

The Norway trade campaign has conducted three studies on Norway’s offensive interests in these negotiations, which are fisheries, energy and telecommunications services. On the other hand, India has shown interest in the agricultural sector. Another concern, free movement of professionals, will be a politically difficult matter for the Norwegian Government.

Meeting agenda

• Introduction – short introduction of EFTA, and its internal dynamics in FTA negotiations
• Norway offensive interests: fisheries, telecommunication services and energy services
• India offensive interests: movement of professionals and agriculture
• Open forum

Aksel Naerstad is the Chair of the Norwegian Trade Campaign and a senior policy adviser for The Development Fund, Norway. The Development Fund has been working at understanding the impacts of Norway Free trade Agreements on people in Norway and India.

Directions to Intercultural Resources (ICR) office
33-D, third floor, DDA SFS Flats, Vijay Mandal Enclave, South Delhi
Phone and Fax: 91-11-2656 0133

Take Aurobindo Marg towards the South. Cross under the IIT flyover and take the first left (check for sign ‘Azad Apartments’), follow the road until the DDA-SFS flats on your right and enter the DDA complex at gate number 3. Inside the complex go straight and take a left behind the building until the staircase next to the flats 32-A and 33-A, and take the staircase till the conference room at the fourth floor.