New Delhi
1 November 2006
"We have very good [economic] cooperation already [but] there is
scope for deepening it and making it even better," Crown Prince Haakon of Norway
observed on Wednesday. Cultural aspects, he was quick to add, play an equally
important role and accordingly suggested the Indian and Norwegian film industries to
collaborate. Crown Princess Mette-Marit, in turn, felt Norwegian fjords rpt fjords could be
a perfect backdrop for a Bolywood love story.
The 33-year-old heir to the Norwegian throne said Norway can offer scenic locales for
shooting Hindi films and India can become a post-production hub for Norwegian films.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit, who also took questions from the Indian and Norwegian
media contingents that had assembled on the lawns of the Norwegian Embassy in New
Delhi, nodded in agreement. Incidnetally, the Crown Princess has been to India before,
as a tourist 11 years ago.
The Crown Princess voiced similar sentiments earlier in Mumbai. "Two of the main
ingredients in Indian films are mystery and beauty. Norway can provide both. One of our
beautiful fjords could be a perfect backdrop for an Indian love story. In return, I hope
Norwegian film producers will learn more about what India has to offer on the production
side," she told Norwegian and Indian film producers two days ago at a seminar. (Fjord is
a long, narrow inlet of the sea between steep slopes.)
Dwelling on the economic ties between the two countries, Crown Prince Haakon said
bilateral cooperation in maritime industry, energy, oil and gas, tourism and health were
high on his agenda. Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit took time out
of their official engagements in New Delhi to meet with young Indian leaders like Priya
Dutt, Madhavrao Scindia, Varun Gandhi, Naveen Jindal and Manvendra Singh. He also
addressed the Indian Council of World Affairs.
The Crown Prince, who met President APJ Abdul Kalam and Minister of External Affairs
Pranab Mukherjee, said there was much to learn from Mahatma Gandhi. On Norway's
role in facilitating the peace process in Sri Lanka, the Crown Prince asked Norwegian
Deputy Foreign Minister Raymond Johansen to brief the media persons. "The Geneva
talks have been quite successful. Now it is upto the parties themselves to show
restraint. We are prepared to continue to cooperate [but] we have to see the situation on
the ground before we make further assessment," Mr Johansen said.
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