Cooperation with India on local democracy

On Monday, Minister of Local Government and Regional Development Liv Signe Navarsete hosted a lunch meeting for the Indian minister for local democracy, Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo.

Norway and India have a cooperation agreement on local democracy. Topics include efforts to increase the percentage of women in local politics. The ministerial visit is a return visit following Navarsete’s trip to India earlier this year.

“I am pleased that our two countries can cooperate in this effort. Although Norway is a small country and India is the world's largest democracy, we can inspire each other, including efforts to increase women's representation in politics,” says Navarsete.

Minister Deo will also visit Øygarden Municipality, which is the twin municipality of the Minister's home municipality in India. Øygarden participated in the “Storefront for women in local politics” project and significantly increased the proportion of women elected to its municipal council during the project period.

Minister Kishore Chandra Deo has a number of meetings in Oslo on Monday and Wednesday, is in Øygarden on Tuesday and will also visit Karasjok during his visit to Norway.