Visit at Lapiz Design

President Frei, Finance Minister Aninat, Mr. Sergio Romero Pizarro (tidl. senator),

Mr. Rudolf Araneda (adm. dir for Lapiz Design),

Ladies and Gentlemen,

We are here today because clever minds understood that when you combine two unique items, namely Norwegian technology and Chile's national gem, lapislazuli, you can get beautiful and precious objects of all kinds!

As far as I understand, just about a year ago, the owners of Las Flores de Los Andes searched for technology that would bring out the inherent beauty in the lapislazuli in an efficient and profitable manner. They looked in Brazil, Germany and the Far East, but remarkably enough it was in Norway they found the unique technology they needed. Norsk Stenprodukt, a small Norwegian enterprise located in the community of Nissedal, home to some 1600 people, had the crucial knowhow.

What Norsk Stenprodukt might have lacked in size, they compensated with entrepeneurship, a strong sense of quality and a unique technology.

Previously, the processing of the lapislazuli were done mainly by local jewelers. The owners of Las Flores de Los Andes wanted to take part in the whole production process -- all the way from mining to the marketing and sales of the finished products. Today the plant employs 21 people ready to supply the growing demand for objects made of lapislazuli. Lapislazuli, as you know, can be used in many products, for example in tiles, pens, jewelry, and door knobs just to mention a few.

This joint Norwegian-Chilean project is an excellent example of how the combination of skillful investors, an important natural resource and unique technology can produced a successful venture!

It is an honour to inaugurate this production plant as it symbolizes the mutually beneficial cooperation between Norway and Chile!

With these few words, I would like to wish your enterprise a successful future!