Indian Coast Guard Ship (ICGS) Shaunak a new offshore patrol vessel (L) is escorted by a tug as she arrives at port in Chennai on March 19, 2017, making her maiden visit after commissioning into the coastguard eastern fleet in Goa

India's Ministry of External Affairs and the Norwegian Foreign Ministry today signed an agreement on India-Norway Ocean Dialogue to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in the area of sustainable use of marine resources

New Delhi — India and Norway have agreed to intensify cooperation on issues related to the seas and oceans as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg held discussions on bolstering ties in trade and investment, blue economy, marine resources, climate change, sustainable development goals (SDGs) and renewable energy.

"Ocean economy is very important for the growth and development of India. Around 15 percent population of India lives in coastal districts. Their lives are directly linked with the ocean economy. Today we have started a new chapter of cooperation in the field of ocean economy. Our bilateral Ocean Dialogue will give impetus to our cooperation in all its related fields", Indian Prime Minister Modi said after having talks with the visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg in New Delhi on Tuesday.

"We reviewed our bilateral cooperation and discussed ways to strengthen it", the Indian prime minister said. Modi and Solberg also discussed cooperation in achieving sustainable development goals.