Your Majesty, your Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen.

It is a great pleasure for me to welcome you to the opening of the 18 ^th> Nor-Shipping exhibition and conference. During the next four days we will once again witness the bustling activity of many thousand exhibitors, speakers and visitors.

Nor-Shipping has become one of the world’s foremost maritime events. The large number of countries represented here reflects the global perspective of the maritime industry. Over the years, the maritime industry has been calling for more and more advanced technology which is clearly demonstrated at this exhibition. All aspects of the maritime sector are covered.

The sea is Norway's most important highway. Our shipping operations and maritime involvement are as you all know rich in tradition. In addition to Norway’s core shipping companies, our overall maritime environment consists of an ever-expanding cluster of industries linked to Norwegian shipping. The Norwegian maritime cluster stretching from seafarers’ unions, to classification and to research and eductional institutions, is one of the most comprehensive in the world, and by far the most comprehensive in this country. Out of a population of 4,5 million some 80.000 people are attatched to the maritime cluster.

We have been able to maintain our leading maritime position through innovation, adapting to new technologies and markets and through policy changes. And the industry has at times been very demanding for the politicians to relate to. The shipping industry is international, and many countries provide for certain conditions which make it easier to maintain such an industry. We must keep this in mind, yet we have an advantage through high competency, environmental considerations – in short, quality.

For a small nation it is furthermore necessary to focus on certain areas where we wish to develop further our efforts. It is our goal that the economic activities and jobs within the maritime industry shall be based in Norway, something our Government has shown through its work with the framework conditions for the ferry lines Color Line and Fjordline, as well as through a separate initiative concerning the renewal of short sea vessels.

International competition has become stiffer, partly as a result of changes in the shipping policies of leading maritime countries. Our government has to keep this situation under review and to consider regularly that our policies are appropriate.

Let me briefly address three major and essential focal points for a successful future maritime development:

priority to international safety legislation

research and development

market development

We give high priority to all efforts for improving safety at sea and protecting the environment. The safeguarding of human life, ships and cargo is a continuous process, and the customers become more demanding. Norway’s position as a leading maritime nation gives us a particular responsibility for the development of international maritime regulations. In this context the International Maritime Organisation plays a leading role.

As the demand for improved quality and safety grows, stricter international standards are bound to be imposed. This should also include more transparency concerning ownership. Consequently, it is essential that initiatives to improve safety are raised in international fora such as the IMO.

The IMO has recently approved a new global timetable for accelerating the phase-out of single hull oil tankers. In the aftermath of the Erika disaster in December 1999 the organisation has worked fast and efficient to reach consensus among the member states. By reaching an agreement the IMO has demonstrated ability to respond to the needs of the member Governments and the shipping community. Furthermore, the organisation has reaffirmed its position as a proper forum for dealing with complex issues related to international shipping.

We know that research, development and education will play a key role in our search for new solutions for more cost-efficient, safe and environmental friendly transport at sea. It is obvious that expertise in design and development of products and innovative solutions are essential for progress in the maritime field. In Norway, considerable "know-how" has been developed through active cooperation between research institutes, universities, and the maritime industry.

This has resulted in some 300 small and medium-sized Norwegian outfitters and five big companies supplying sophisticated products to the worldwide shipping and offshore industries. The Norwegian producers and designers of ships gear are very important for the research and development activity. They work closely with the shipyards and maritime research centers, to incorporate the latest technological advances into their designs. The close cooperation in the maritime cluster is one of the reasons why Norwegians yards still have a leading position in building technically advanced ships.

Some years ago the members of the maritime cluster and the Norwegian Research Council decided to establish a common research and development programme for the maritime cluster as a whole. This programme involves research and development activities concentrating on thematic areas with limited time frame. Among other areas the programme has focused on information technology, sea transport and logistics, as well as ship equipment and equipment technology. The activities have an overall environmental focus.

Our Government wishes to stimulate maritime research and development in the coming years and we have a dialogue going with both the research institutes and the industry on how to organise the future activities.

It is vital for us to discuss the future challenges and possibilities with the industry itself. I have therefore established a maritime working group and several sub-groups, which I personally consult with. The members of this group represent a broad spectre of the maritime industries, and discussions focus how the maritime industry as a whole should be maintained in Norway.

One topic, which the industry often takes up, is support measures. Shipping is now more or less tax-free internationally. Given the very strong competition from open registers, it does not appear possible to roll back support measures in the short term. In an environment of world-wide competition, our goal is to make shipping companies established in Norway more competitive, which depends not only on competitive conditions for manning and registering vessels but also on a favourable environment for shipping companies.

I believe new market opportunities for the shipping industry will arise, partly because of the need for quality ships which are safe and environmental friendly. We must pay attention so that people of the industry who have been working hard to achieve high quality management do not lose their market shares because of high costs. Together with the industry I will review whether it is necessary to study more carefully the future challenges we face and the possibilities we may create and establish.

The Norwegian shipping industry is in a good position to capture its share of the expected growth in international sea transport and in other shipping related activities in the years ahead. The industry means a great deal for Norway and our districts. Our shipping industry has the expertise, the ability to adjust and the necessary innovation skills on the nautical, technical and commercial level.

It is my hope that this exhibition and conference will contribute to co-operation and further development within the maritime industry.

It is my pleasure to declare the Nor-Shipping 2001 officially open and to wish you all the best of luck.