Thursday, December 8 2005 15:50 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Norway today (Dec 8, 2005) offered its expertise and cooperation to help India meet its energy needs even as its Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg said New Delhi would have to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) to gain membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG).

On a three-day visit here to 'deepen and broaden' bilateral relations, Stoltenberg said he looked forward to negotiating a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India and explore possibilities for enhancing business with one of the world's fastest growing economies.

"Norway is a leading energy producer. Our companies have expertise in exploration of oil and gas, especially off-shore. India is looking into potential of developing oil and gas resources off-shore," he told a select group of reporters here.

"We have world leading companies, both in Government and private, in electricity generation, and transportation and transmission facilities. We have world leading companies in supply and engineering in energy sector," he said, adding, "In all these areas, there is potential for cooperation."

The Norwegian Prime Minister said he would be looking for 'mutually commercial beneficial agreements' between the companies of the two countries and the Governments' role would be to facilitate those.

On the nuclear issue, he said his country was open for dialogue but they are very much in favour of Non-Proliferation Treaty and according to the treaty, one can be a member of the NSG only if one has signed the treaty.

He said, "Since Norway was in favour of strengthening the NPT, we can't see there is any room for membership or basis for dialogue (with India)."