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The Industry ensures welfare
Norsk industri secures welfare and thereby the future of Norway. The industry has a unique flexibility, an ability to innovate, and a will to use modern technology. In 2008 the industry had a turnover of 651 billlion kroner, and the industrial export added 309 billion kroner to Norway. This appreciation is of vital importance in order for this country to maintain and further develop our welfare society.
Norway’s industry is international. Many of Norwegian Industry’s 2.200 member firms are present on the international markets. The industry today does not depend on Norway, Norway depends on the industry. To ensure that the industry is willing to invest in Norway in the future, we have to adjust conditions for the industry. If the conditions for the industry in Norway are at least as good as abroad, the industry will also grow here.
Unhindered acces to energy and natural resources have over the years established a strong industrial growth in great parts of Norway. When the Norwegian oil adventure began 40 years ago, there were no Norwegian supplier industry. Today 85.000 people work in this business. The business has long ago reached beyond Norwegian borders and is today world leading not least when it comes to work under the water (måske findes der er bedre udtryk???).
Norwegian industry is environmentally conscious. The environmental consciousness is a competetive advantage in more businesses for instance in the Norwegian aluminium industry where the production
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over the last 10 years has doubled while the emission of CO2 is halved. Agreements with successive governments and massive investments in new technology have made this environmental aim possible. And the modern environmental technology which helps taking care of nature has also become an article for export today.
Nowhere worldwide do they produce aluminium more environmentally friendly than in Norway based on Norwegian water power. The best way for Norway to contribute to a better climate globally is actually to further develop its energy sector. In this perspective it is important to point to the fact that new and longterm energy contracts have recently been entered between energy producers and energy emitters.
Historically Norway was first known as homeland to the vikings. They had no fears but they had a great desire to travel. The Norwegian Leiv Erikson discovered America 500 years before Columbus. The vikings may have been martial but at the same time they soon established trade and businesses wherever they settled. The cities of Dublin in Ireland and York in England are founded by the vikings. And there is an unbroken line from the extremely seaworthy viking ships 1000 years ago to the shipbuilding and seafaring nation of Norway in 2011.
Today, Norway is a modern society which for several years successively has been named the best country to live in by the UN. What characterize Norwegian work life are short and informal decision-making processes and well-educated manpower. You can even find the industry in many small towns in Norway where everybody is familiar with each other and as such the differences between people are limited. This is a competitive advantage in itself.
That Norwegian industrial businesses are attractive to foreigners became obvious by the end of 2010 when China National Bluestar bought Norwegian silicon producer, Elkem, for 12,5 billion kroner. In Norway we do indeed have good experience with foreign owners, not least in the industry.
Norway, the energy nation, must continue to export vast amounts of oil and gas in the future and there are great expectations to the energy resources, among others, in the northern areas . At the same time we see that the development of wind power, sea wind, wave power, geothermical (??) and other environmentally friendly energy create new opportunities for Norwegian industry and provide competitive settings. In Norwegian Industry we put it like this: No future without technology, no technology without industry!
Stein Lier-Hansen
CEO of Norsk Industri
www.norskindustri.no