India and Norway on Tuesday signed an agreement to facilitate the exemption of visas for diplomatic and official passport holders during President Pranab Mukherjee's state visit to the Scandinavian nation.
The agreement, which was signed between Indian ambassador to Norway Norman Anil Kumar Browne and Director General Tore Hattrem of the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, will help to promote bilateral relations by facilitating the travel of diplomatic and official passport holders to the territory of the two countries.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also signed between the two nations. The MoU, between the Indian Ministry of Culture and Munch Museum, Norway, which was signed by Professor Rajeev Lochan, Director, National Gallery of Modern Arts and Stein Olav Henrichsen, Director, Munch Museum, aims to inspire the mutual desire of institutions to strengthen and enhance friendly cultural relations between the two countries, deepen mutual understanding of their peoples and promote cultural co-operation and exchanges.
Earlier in the day, President Mukherjee also confirmed that tourists from Norway will soon be able to avail of the visa on arrival facility in India.
"I am pleased to inform you that Norway will feature in the list of few countries to be soon granted the facility of Tourist Visa on Arrival which will greatly facilitate travel for Norwegian citizens to India," he said.
In total, eleven MoUs, one agreement and one statement of intent (SiO) were signed between the two nations.
President Mukherjee, who is on a two-day visit to Norway, will travel to Finland later on Tuesday.
