Giske brings big group to Brazil

Norway’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Trond Giske, will visit Brazil February 17 - 21. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen business relations between Norway and Brazil. With him is a business delegation of about 130 people.

This is the largest business delegation ever accompanying a Norwegian minister. - Obviously, interest in Brazil is rapidly growing. Many see this as a promising market to invest in, Giske says.

Brazil is Norway’s most important trading partner in Latin America. – Brazil is becoming an increasingly important country for Norwegian industry, and we therefore want to strenghten our industrial and trade policy cooperation with the country, Giske said.
 
During the trip, Giske will visit the towns of Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Santos, Belém and Brasilia. He will participate in meetings with several ministers, the chief executive of Petrobras, the president of the Brazilian development bank BNDES and a number of representatives of Norwegian industry in Brazil.

The delegation accompanying Giske includes representatives from Kongsberg, DnBNor, Statoil, Siem Offshore and Odfjell Drilling and representatives from trade unions, the Maritime Association and a number of other key organizations and companies. They will participate in several business seminars in Rio de Janeiro during the visit. The primary focus of their program is maritime offshore activities, research and technology cooperation, underground engineering, financial services and architecture.

- Brazil's vast oil and gas reserves give Norway's offshore industry and marine suppliers ample opportunities to contribute their expertise. But the country's economic growth also creates opportunities for Norwegian companies from other sectors, and during the visit, we wish to emphasize the width of expertise that Norwegian industry can offer, Giske said.

The Norwegian Government is preparing a strategy for Brazil. One of its main goals will be to create better conditions for Norwegian industry in the country. - I look forward to hearing directly from both Norwegians and Brazilians working together in Brazil, Giske said.

Facts about the economic relations between Norway and Brazil:

• In 2010, Norway exported goods of 5.5 billion kroner
• Commodity Exports to Brazil increased by 80% from 2009 to 2010.
• In 2010, Norway exported for the first time more manufactured goods (machinery) than dried cod to Brazil
• Norway imported goods from Brazil for 6.3 billion kroner in 2010.
• About 120 Norwegian companies have operations in Brazil, and the number is doubled in the last five years. Most of these companies are active in the offshore and maritime activities.
• In addition, Norwegian companies are also represented in sectors such as aluminum production (Norwegian Hydro), ethanol (Umoe Bioenergy), fertilizer (Yara), furniture (Ekornes), wood (Norwegian Forest) and financial services (DnB NOR).