Åpning av næringslivskonferanse i Brasil

                                                                                         * Sjekkes mot fremføring

Dear everyone,

It is a great honour to be here.

I want to thank all of you for the warm welcome – in a double sense of the term.

In Norway winter is just around the corner, and it has already started snowing many places.

To arrive here, in the Brazilian sun, has been a great experience.

I also want to thank Team Norway, and especially Innovation Norway, for organizing this conference.

It offers an excellent opportunity for Norwegian and Brazilian companies to connect.

I hope you will take advantage of this opportunity!
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The ties between our two countries are close.

And they go way back.
Norway has exported clipfish, or bacalhau, to Brazil for more than one hundred and seventy years.

And Brazil has brought us some of the best coffee in the world.

We are also closely linked in the energy sector.

With more than fifty years of experience from the petroleum sector, Norwegian companies have a lot to offer.

A case in point is Equinor, Norway’s largest energy company, that is the second largest operator on the Brazilian Continental Shelf.

And off course - it goes the other way around as well.

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I know that many of you present here today, are Brazilians working for - or with - Norwegian companies.

Norwegian companies depend on your knowledge of local conditions, and your expertise, to succeed. 

I want to thank all of you for helping Norwegian partners to explore opportunities here in Brazil.

And for your efforts to make the economic ties between our two countries even closer.

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Almost two hundred and fifty Norwegian companies, in different sectors, are already present here in Brazil.

I have already mentioned Equinor.

Another example is Yara, that provides fertilizers to Brazilian farmers.

Subsea 7 and DOF Subsea are both part of the supplier industry in the Brazilian energy sector.

And I know that many more Norwegian companies are eager to connect with Brazilian business partners.

In other words: The economic connection between our two countries is already significant and fruitful – for both countries.

And the potential for further growth is great.

Not least in the search for green solutions.

Norway has been among the pioneers of renewable energy for a long time.

One of the benefits of our petroleum sector is that the know-how can be transferred to renewables, such as ocean wind, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen.

Norwegian companies consider Brazil a strategic market in their energy transition.

And Norwegian companies are already investing heavily in renewable energy in Brazil, equaling 16 per cent of total investments.

One thing is for sure: If we are to solve the big challenges of our time, such as climate change and supply chain security, we need to work together.

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In a world where the geopolitical situation is more uncertain than in a long time, we need close friends and partners.

The Norwegian government is working to finalize the trade agreement between EFTA and Mercosur.

A trade agreement will open doors to new business opportunities in both countries.

New jobs.

And investments. 

To finalize this agreement has high priority to The Norwegian Government.

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Dear friends,
Except the weather, and the ability to qualify for the World Cup in football, we share much common ground.

Norwegian and Brazilian companies have a lot to offer each other.

You are all proof of that.

And I look forward to seeing new connections to be made during these days.

Thank you for your attention.

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