ELP Business Connections

Country of the month

Norway

>> Click here for country information

General facts and figures
Norway’s population is 4.9 million as of 1 January 2010. Some 50 % live in urban areas, and around 1 million in the capital Oslo and 100 km surroundings. 14 % of the population has immigrant background, mainly from Poland, Pakistan, Sweden, Iraq, and Somalia. Norway is one of the richest countries in the world, mainly due to the offshore oil business, starting around 1970. Of the original reserves of 27 billion barrels, 19 are now produced, but new reserves are continuously discovered, particularly in the north. Norway is also a main supplier of natural gas to Europe. The GDP has been growing rapidly for the last 7 years and is now 92.000 USD per capita. Even after the recent financial turmoil, Norway has vast currency reserves and investments abroad. Unemployment is only 3.5 %.

Opportunities for foreign companies
The most obvious opportunities are in the offshore oil & gas sector, with a broad range of high tech applications within exploration, exploitation, processing, and transport. But interesting markets are also found in shipbuilding, particularly for offshore supply and special machinery and vessels. Norway’s merchant fleet is still one of the largest in the world, particularly within gas carriers, but also bulk and specialized vehicle transporters. Forestry, pulp & paper used to be a major contributor to the economy, but are now on decline. However, the traditional fish industry is still going strong, and particularly fish farming, where Norway is now in a front position globally. Good business opportunities may also be found in bio-tech and healthcare, and in large building and infrastructure projects.

Good reasons for doing business in Norway
- A stable political environment, and membership in the European Economic Area (EEA Agreement).
- A reliable legal system, with advanced business legislation, and very low criminality.
- Excellent logistics (ports, airports, rail, roads, warehouses, etc.)
- Moderate company taxation (28 % flat rate on taxable profits).
- A highly competent labour force, and comparatively low salaries for academic staff.

How ELP can help you in developing your business in Norway
Contact immediately your local ELP partner, and he will activate the ELP network in Norway for the following services, provided by experienced professionals with several years in the local market:
- Market analysis
- Business connection trips
- Assistance for collaboration and company set up
- Technology transfer

Competitiveness by ELP

There are 24 languages in Europe, but you need just one Partner to improve your business in any European country: ELP BUSINESS CONNECTIONS IS YOUR LOCAL PARTNER.

ELP Business Connections GmbH is a network of several hundreds professional business consultants working in 25 nations, helping Enterprises in developing their business and fostering their competitiveness.

ELP has professional local consultants in Europe and linked partners also in USA, Canada, Japan, China and India. Each of ELP Business Connection consultants are linked to the Headquarters in Zurich

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News

2009-10-01:

ELP Business Connections GmbH is active today also in Australia and New Zealand