Minister of State’s Visit to Norway June 2023

Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, embarked on an official visit to Norway spanning from 5th to 6th June 2023. During her visit, she engaged in productive discussions with key Norwegian officials, including Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt and State Secretary Erling Rimestad. At the Norwegian Parliament, she met with members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, led by Committee Chair Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide.

In the meeting with Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, both parties lauded the 75 years of strong bilateral relations and committed to further fortifying ties across various domains. Emphasizing the significance of multilateralism in addressing regional and global challenges, they explored avenues for collaborative efforts.

Expressing gratitude for Norway’s substantial assistance to flood victims in Pakistan during her meeting with State Secretary Erling Rimestad, the Minister of State delved into discussions on potential collaborations, particularly in the realms of green energy, micro hydropower plants, shipping, blue economy, higher education, and research. Both sides also exchanged views on pressing regional and global security issues.

In a special meeting with top management of Norwegian companies operating in Pakistan, including the Chairman of Norhydro, Robert Storbekk, and CEO Norhydro Rukhsar Hamid. The Minister of State underscored her appreciation for their investments. She specifically highlighted Norhydro’s role and expressed hope that such initiatives would not only strengthen existing ties but also encourage other private enterprises from Norway to foster business relations with Pakistan.

CEO Norhydro Pvt Limited Signing MoU with various community associations of GB

Embracing a holistic vision, we envisions a complete circular economy program for the Gilgit-Baltistan region in Pakistan from here we are piloting. aiming to address multifaceted challenges in sustainable development across various domains.

Collaborating closely with our affiliate company Global Pedlars and drawing upon the expertise of the Gilgit-Baltistan Rural Support Program (GBRSP), our approach encompasses energy, water, nutrition, and competence building, culminating in a transformative circular economy.

This innovative program stems from the understanding that a circular economy thrives on interconnections and interdependencies among various sectors. As a responsible corporate entity, we recognize the significance of collective efforts to create lasting change. Leveraging our partnerships with diverse Norwegian institutions and universities, we are committed to building competence and sharing knowledge as part of our corporate social responsibility.

CEO NorHydro Signing MoU with KIU

We have collaborated with Karakoram International University (KIU), marking the establishment of an academic partnership that goes beyond energy initiatives. This partnership reflects a shared aspiration for sustainable growth, harnessing the academic platform to promote innovative solutions and knowledge exchange. This collaboration not only enriches the circular economy program but also empowers the local community through enhanced skills and learning.

Our partnerships with institutions like Norwegian University of Lifesciences (NMBU) (https://www.nmbu.no/en)  and Norwegian Institute of Bio-economy Research (NIBIO) https://www.nibio.no/en  are pivotal.

NorHydro has connected the Norwegian Institutions with the Karakoram International University (KIU)  in Gilgit. This nexus serves as a cornerstone of our competence-building and circular economy model for Gilgit Baltistan, fostering knowledge exchange and sustainable growth. This approach aims to harness the potential of the knowledge economy, where competences play a central role as a key resource for sustainable environmental and economic development within communities.

Minister of State’s Visit to Norway

Ms. Hina Rabbani Khar, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, embarked on an official visit to Norway spanning from 5th to 6th June 2023. During her visit, she engaged in productive discussions with key Norwegian officials, including Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt and State Secretary Erling Rimestad. At the Norwegian Parliament, she met with members of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, led by Committee Chair Ms. Ine Eriksen Søreide.

In the meeting with Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt, both parties lauded the 75 years of strong bilateral relations and committed to further fortifying ties across various domains. Emphasizing the significance of multilateralism in addressing regional and global challenges, they explored avenues for collaborative efforts.

Expressing gratitude for Norway’s substantial assistance to flood victims in Pakistan during her meeting with State Secretary Erling Rimestad, the Minister of State delved into discussions on potential collaborations, particularly in the realms of green energy, micro hydropower plants, shipping, blue economy, higher education, and research. Both sides also exchanged views on pressing regional and global security issues.

In a special meeting with top management of Norwegian companies operating in Pakistan, including the Chairman of Norhydro, Robert Storbekk, and CEO Norhydro Rukhsar Hamid. The Minister of State underscored her appreciation for their investments. She specifically highlighted Norhydro’s role and expressed hope that such initiatives would not only strengthen existing ties but also encourage other private enterprises from Norway to foster business relations with Pakistan.