Friday, November 13, 2026
Asia and Norway

Korea’s VIP draws more invest from Norway’s sovereign fund

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

image_readtop_2016_582281_14713278772582058South Korea’s VIP Research& Management Co. came under the spotlight by drawing successive investment from Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the world’s largest with assets $847.6 billion under management.

According to the financial industry Monday, the Korean asset manager was recently assigned to manage $100 million on behalf of Norway’s Government Pension Fund Global. The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund first chose the Korean firm last year and entrusted $300 million.

Scandinavian pension funds scrutinize various aspects of asset managers from their asset management performance to work ethics of employees. VIP’s adherence to principles of value investing regardless of market conditions is said to have played a crucial role in its consecutive wins of investment funds from the Norwegian fund.

The firm also ensures solid returns on its investments. VIP, established in 2003, is founded by Seoul National University friends J.C. Choi and Peter Kim. It has gained a solid footing in the industry with its strategies focusing on small- and medium-sized value caps.

It came on strong between 2012 and 2014 in value-stock dominant market, but fared poorer in last year’s market led by bio and cosmetics.

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Norwegian Aid

Civilians in Aleppo in desperate need of help: MFA press release

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

width_650.height_300.mode_FillAreaWithCrop.pos_Default.color_White‘Serious atrocities are being committed against the civilian population in Aleppo. The conflicting parties need to respect humanitarian law and comply with the United Nations’ appeal for a pause in hostilities. Norway supports the humanitarian actors in Aleppo and the surrounding regions. If access is now granted, Norway will increase this support,’ said Minister of Foreign Affairs Børge Brende.

The Minister is deeply concerned about the humanitarian conditions for civilians in Aleppo now that the Syrian regime’s military forces have besieged the eastern part of the city and cut off all humanitarian access to the area. Civilians are exposed to further pressure when rebel groups counterattack in an attempt to break the regime’s siege. The UN has called for weekly 48-hour humanitarian pauses in the fighting.

‘Since early July it has been impossible to get humanitarian assistance into the eastern part of Aleppo,’ said Mr Brende. ‘Using access to humanitarian assistance as a tool of warfare is unacceptable. Critical infrastructure necessary for supplying water and electricity has also been damaged and causes an acute lack of clean drinking water in all of Aleppo.

‘Measures must quickly be implemented in order to get emergency help to civilians. If the only possibility is by aircraft, then that is something we must seriously consider, even if it were a very difficult operation. The most important thing in the current situation is to put pressure on the parties to accept that civilians must get the help they need. The parties must also give the UN room so that an absolutely necessary repair of the water and electricity plants can be carried out.’

In eastern Aleppo, which is controlled by rebels and under attack by the government regime and its allies, the UN estimates up to 275,000 people are living under unbearably difficult conditions. In recent weeks there have been very intense hostilities in an around Aleppo, which have against humanitarian principles directly affected civilians, medical facilities and civil infrastructure.

‘Only a political solution can put a final end to the suffering,’ said Mr Brende. ‘The parties on the ground and regional actors need to take responsibility and realise that this can no longer continue. I am in constant contact with colleagues and will, among other things, take up the matter in Aleppo during my visit to Iran this week. I will also take the opportunity to underscore our support to the UN and Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura’s efforts towards reaching a political solution.’

The humanitarian needs in Syria are great. More than 1.3 million people require humanitarian assistance in Syria. In addition to acute emergency aid, Norway also supports more long-term foreign aid towards food security, agriculture and reconstruction of destroyed homes. Norway will contribute more than NOK 2.4 billion to the Syria crisis in 2016.

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Africa and Norway

Norway fund on African hiring spree

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

csm_OsloA new development-finance venture that will control banking and other assets worth more than $660 million across sub-Saharan Africa plans to hire as many as 20 people including analysts to manage its investments and help it spend another $300 million on acquisitions.

The Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries, the state-owned financier known as Norfund, is pooling its investments on the continent with Dutch lender Rabobank Groep and Dutch development bank FMO to create Arise, which will be based in South Africa. Arise will start operating in January with investments in 20 African countries and enough funding to be able to reach almost $1 billion of assets within five years, said Deepak Malik, the southern African head of Norfund.

“We’re going to go through an extreme recruitment phase, looking for senior investment staff and analysts and more,” he said in an interview in Johannesburg, where the company has five employees. “We’ve also got to get regulatory approval in all the African countries we operate in. That could take us six to eight months.”

The venture will hire 20 to 25 people over the next six months and is also contemplating moving its sub-Saharan African headquarters to Cape Town, Malik said.

Africa struggles

Even though European banking regulations have made it more expensive to hold foreign investments, Rabobank decided not to exit its African assets and instead set up the partnership with Norfund and FMO. Utrecht, Netherlands-based Rabobank, which specialises in agricultural lending, is ensuring its shareholdings are below regulatory thresholds that will require it to set aside capital for the investments.

The formation of Arise comes after growth in sub-Saharan Africa eased to 3.5 percent in 2015, the slowest pace in 15 years, with the International Monetary Fund predicting an expansion of 3 percent for this year.

Arise’s ambition “is to build strong and stable financial-service providers that will serve retail, small-and-medium enterprises, the rural sector and clients who have not previously had access to financial services,” the three partners said in a statement on August 4.

Norfund’s investments span a solar park in Rwanda, biogas generation in South Africa, a 12.5 percent holding in Kenya’s Lake Turkana wind project, which will be the largest on the continent, and 12 percent of Equity Group Holdings, Kenya’s biggest bank by market value.

Young population

“Africa has the world’s youngest population, the lowest banking penetration rate, a weak financial sector in terms of capital and the foreign banks are struggling with regulation in their home markets,” Malik said.

The continent has the lowest access to financial services in the world, with less than a quarter of the population owning a bank account, compared with about 34 percent in Latin America, according to a 2015 report by the African Development Bank Group. Further, with over 40 percent of its working-age population between the ages of 15 and 24, Africa is the youngest continent in the world, United Nations research shows.

Norfund, which has offices in Johannesburg, Maputo and Nairobi, will have a 48 percent stake in Arise, FMO will hold 27 percent and Rabobank just under 25 percent, Malik said. Banco Montepio, a Portuguese financial services company, may join the partnership, the companies said in a statement on August. 4.

Asset sales

Norfund has invested about $2 billion in Africa in the past 13 years. Half of its investments are in clean energy with financial services its next biggest investment portfolio. It typically takes minority equity stakes and its African investments span countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Mozambique, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

“Norfund is already working on two transactions with two listed companies, one in South Africa, and one elsewhere,” Malik said, without giving more details. “After Arise starts in January we want everyone to get entrenched with the portfolio in the first six to eight months. You might also see a selloff in some assets we don’t want to stay in as the new company.”

(Bloomberg)

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Environment

Norway and UN Environment Sign New Agreement for Enhanced Cooperation

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

InsertImage.aspUN Environment and the Norwegian Government signed a framework agreement for development cooperation yesterday that lays new ground for future collaboration in development and environmental sustainability. The agreement was signed by the head of UN Environment, Erik Solheim, and Norway’s Ambassador to Kenya, Victor Conrad Rønneberg.

Solheim said, “This is another example of what has long been an excellent and fruitful relationship between Norway and UN Environment. We at UN Environment look forward to continuing to work together with Norway to achieve our many common goals in environment and development.”

Ambassador Rønneberg said, “This new framework agreement enables a more holistic and efficient partnership between UNEP and Norway, and I hope that the agreement will contribute to enhancing our long-standing collaboration.”

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Africa and Norway

US$2m investment ups AFZ output

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Screen Shot 2016-08-15 at 07.40.01Associated Foods Zimbabwe Ltd’s US$2 million investment, including a state-of-the-art peanut butter production line, has enabled it to improve its product quality and increase production threefold. The food processor is now angling for the export market. Part of the funds provided by the Norwegian Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund) will contribute towards import substitution in the food-processing sector.

Mrs Chishamiso Mawoyo, an investment manager in Norfund’s food and agribusiness department, said support for investment in agriculture was critical for economic growth.

“This investment is in line with Norfund’s strategy to support profitable and sustainable, local enterprises in developing countries.

“Agriculture is a priority sector for Norfund, as it employs approximately half of Africa’s workforce and plays an important role for economic growth and development. We look forward to being an active, strategic minority investor in AFZ with a long term perspective,” she said.

Norfund was established by Norway’s parliament in 1997 as a conduit for investment in sustainable commercial businesses in developing countries.

Support is mainly through equity, other risk capital and loans to companies in selected countries in Southern, East and West Africa, Southeast Asia and Central America.

With a portfolio of US$1,8 billion, Norfund invests in clean energy, financial institutions and agribusiness, and SMEs.

AFZ — born out of a merger between Honeywood Enterprises, a producer of Farm Gold brand jams, and Spread Valley, a leading producer of Mama’s brand peanut butter — is one of Zimbabwe’s major producers of peanut butter, jam spreads and canned tomatoes and fruits.

Honeywood Enterprises was formerly owned by Mr Rob Haden Tebb and his family, while Spread Valley (Pvt) Ltd was similarly a family-owned business controlled by Mr Simba Nyabadza.

“By combining the manufacturing strengths of Honeywood Enterprises with the sales, marketing and distribution strengths of Spread Valley, we aim to create the economies of scale and synergies in order to generate significant added value and efficiencies for all stakeholders, including customers.

“We are pleased to have found in Norfund a first-class partner with a deep understanding of the food and agribusiness sector, strong track-record and a well-rounded international network,” said Mrs Simba Nyabadza, AFZ director and majority shareholder.

Joint venture partner Mr Harden Tebb said the business returns could improve as the food processing company, like many other agro-processors, realise benefits arising from the restriction of certain imports.

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Asia and Norway

‘Countries Evolve in Stages’: Norway’s Outgoing Ambassador to Burma

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

NorwayA longtime backer of Burma’s pro-democracy movement, Norway has been a high-profile donor to development and peacebuilding programs inside Burma since the launch of political and economic reforms in 2011.

Since 2012, Norway has led the Myanmar Peace Support Initiative and the Peace Donor Support Group, which channels donor funds in support of Burma’s ceasefires with ethnic armed groups through development and humanitarian assistance. Norway has also supported women’s empowerment and leadership programs in Burma.

In recent years, Norway has also made significant inroads into Burma’s private sector. In mid 2013, Norwegian telecom giant Telenor was one of two foreign companies—along with Qatar’s Ooredoo—to be awarded 15-year telecom operating licenses in Burma. Norwegian multi-national oil and gas company Statoil was awarded a deep-water exploration block off the Arakan coast.

Irrawaddy senior reporter Nyein Nyein interviewed Norway’s outgoing ambassador to Burma, Ms. Ann Ollestad, about her thoughts and her experience of working in the country, before she departed in the first week of August.

Norway is known as a donor to development and peace initiatives in Burma. Could you elaborate on what kind of support you are providing?

In the three years since I took up the post as the Norwegian Ambassador to Myanmar in October 2013, the relationship between Myanmar and Norway has developed at an incredibly fast pace. Fruitful relations exist on many levels—the political level but also the people-to-people level. For a long time, Norway and Myanmar have had a special, although informal, relationship.

In June this year, friends of Myanmar in Norway named a park after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi in Froland, in the south of Norway, to honor her. This is one example of how longstanding, informal relationships have contributed to creating the trust that today is fundamental to the bilateral relationship.

Another example I would like to mention is the historically important state visit made by the Norwegian Royal Couple in 2014, one of the first state visits from a Western country. This visit strengthened the bilateral relationship, and underlined the importance of Myanmar to Norway and to the Norwegian people. To further strengthen the relations between the two countries, which is based on friendship and mutual respect, it was an important milestone when we signed a Memorandum of Understanding on development cooperation with Myanmar in 2014. Norway supports projects in a wide range of sectors where Norway has relevant experience for the development of Myanmar, such as environment, energy, national resource management, fisheries, forestry and petroleum.

What has Norway’s role been in the current peace process?

Norway was requested in 2012 by the Government of Myanmar to establish the Myanmar Peace Support Initiative (MPSI) and to chair the Peace Support Group (PSG). MPSI initiated and supported 15 pilot projects seeking to build trust and confidence. A number of these projects brought together Union government officials, the Myanmar Army, non-state armed- and political groups, civil society actors and communities for the first time. These pilot projects represented a new situation for communities in ceasefire areas, including seeing the first international presence in their areas.

In my farewell calls in Naypyidaw with President U Htin Kyaw, the Commander-in-Chief Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, as well as with the speakers of both houses of Parliament, one of my most important messages was a reiteration of Norway’s continued support to the peace process. I am very encouraged to see the preparations for the 21st Century Panglong Conference proceeding. Norway supports an all-inclusive political dialogue to pave a way for a lasting political solution to address the conflict that has been going on for too long.

Could you share your experience working in the country as the only female ambassador?

To be the only female ambassador to Myanmar has given me a unique role in raising the issues of women’s rights and the role of women in the democratic transition and the peace process. As a female ambassador, I have had the privilege to travel to every corner of this country, meeting and interacting with many strong and clever women. Supporting their initiatives gives me great hope for the future of this country.

My government has a policy of working systematically to promote women’s participation in peace processes, improve training on how women’s humanitarian and security needs can be met, and help ensure that women’s economic and political status and legal rights are given more emphasis in peace-building processes. The work on women, peace and security in Myanmar is part of broader peace process and peace-building efforts that Norway has actively supported and engaged with for several years. We are convinced that there will be no sustainable peace unless women’s needs and views are reflected in the final peace agreement.

It is important for us to emphasize that men bear just as much responsibility as women for ensuring that the needs of both genders are met in processes relating to peace and security. The active participation of men and women in society is also important for preventing and combating radicalization.

In addition to providing support to our partners, the Embassy is actively promoting women’s role in the peace process. One way we do this is by hosting several working dinners and seminars where women and men meet to discuss and exchange experiences and ideas concerning quotas for women’s participation in peace and political dialogue processes, and women’s involvement in business and in positions of leadership.

Women representation in politics and government is still well under the desired minimum of 30 percent, even though a powerful woman, Aung San Suu Kyi, now effectively leads Burma. What words would you like to share with women activists?

Countries evolve in stages. I am sure that as democracy is strengthened in Myanmar, more women will get opportunities to join in decision-making processes. We have already seen more women elected to the current parliament, but we would like to see more in the future. Two women were appointed as chief ministers of states and regions. As you mentioned, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is holding a very important position in the executive wing of the government. To encourage women, and invite more women into all positions in society, and, importantly, into the peace process, is one of Norway’s most important messages to Myanmar.

It is evident that that when women influence peace processes, the outcomes are more sustainable. In this sense, it is not necessarily the numerical inclusion of women, but the substantive participation and influence of women that is a key element in securing and sustaining peace agreements.

Could you comment on trade relations with Burma? What are the successes of the Myanmar-Norway Business Council? How do you ensure your business ventures are responsible?

Myanmar needs a strong and vibrant private sector based on the principles of responsible business in order to lift the people out of poverty and into development.

At this stage, Norway does not have much bilateral trade, but we look forward to establishing stronger business relations with Myanmar. This is why the Myanmar-Norway Business Council was established last year. The aim is to facilitate growth in trade and investment between Norway and Myanmar, to create a forum for businesses to exchange ideas and experience, and to provide networking opportunities. We believe that Norwegian companies and the private sector can bring in competence, knowledge, technology and responsible business practice that will benefit both Myanmar and Norway.

The Norwegian Embassy has therefore played a role in the promotion of responsible business when Norwegian companies have established themselves in Myanmar—to ensure that companies know that they are expected to act as role models, by setting high standards, building capacity, promoting women in the workforce, and improving people’s livelihoods.

As maritime nations, both countries share a close relation to the resources in the ocean. Norway shares expertise with Myanmar, and builds capacity, through two prominent projects, namely Fish for Development and Oil for Development. Norway believes that by supporting capacity building in the government and in different sectors, Myanmar can benefit from and protect the resources of this rich country in the best possible way.

(irrawaddy)

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Srilanka and Norway

Norwegian PM Solsberg: SL priorities in line with UN SDGs

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

z_p02-norwegianCo- Chair of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Advocacy Group and Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg said that development priorities of Sri Lanka are in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The key goals in this respect are climate action, conservation of the oceans, peace and justice, gender equality and affordable and clean energy,” she said.

The Norwegian Prime Minister Solberg said so while delivering the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture on Friday (12).

“Financing sustainable development calls for domestic revenue generation, combined with good management of existing resources and improved tax structures that eliminate tax havens,” she noted, adding that, “This is not only a question of global leadership, but it is also a question of national and local leadership. At the same time, it is a question of international solidarity.”

She said the business sector too is taking ownership of the SDGs, as a growing number of companies align their business strategies with the goals.

“I have learnt for instance that the Sri Lankan textile industry has initiated energy efficiency efforts,” she pointed out.

“Today and every day, until goals are achieved, we must take concrete steps to make the world more sustainable.”

“This requires leadership in all countries and at all levels of society,” she said.

“There are already several examples of leadership within the private sector. Now political leaders should cultivate political wills. They must also translate political wills into legislation, policies and concrete plans. Then we must finance and implement the plans,” she said.

“International development aid would be needed in the most vulnerable areas of the world to ensure that no one is left behind.”

She said forced migration and harmful climate changes must be averted anywhere in the world and pandemics must be fought and put out if we are to achieve lasting peace. SDG efforts must be made throughout the world with equal intensity, she spotlighted.

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Srilanka and Norway

Norwegian research vessel to assess Sri Lankan marine stocks in 2017

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

PM-NorwayNorwegian funded research vessel is to visit Sri Lankan waters next year to carry out a marine stock assessment, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said.

This would be the first time an in-depth research on fish stocks and a marine survey covering the entire sea of the country conducted in Sri Lanka, and Norway has consented to extend their support to Sri Lanka in this endeavour.

“Sri Lanka and Norway could work together through our fisheries cooperation on sustainable use of marine resources,” Solberg said.

“We hope that the Norwegian funded research vessel Fridtjof Nansen will visit Sri Lankan waters next year to do a stock assessment.”

The study will be carried out for a period of two years and the data will be used in assessment of fish stocks, especially in submission of recommendation of strategies for fish resources development.

She was delivering the Lakshman Kadirgamar memorial lecture on the theme ‘Sustainable Development Goals: Working together for our Common Good’.

(N.Sethu)

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Asia and Norway

Norwegian Consortium Holds Oil, Gas Seminar in Iran

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

colombia-government-farc-close-to-peace-deal-mediator-norwayA consortium of Norwegian knowledge-based companies and academic bodies, organized by an Iranian energy management and consultancy company Energiring, held a seminar on the development of oil and gas upstream sector in Iran last week.

“The seminar focused on the transfer of technical and management knowhow in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry,” Mohammad Reza Ja’fari-Nasr, an academic figure at the Research Institute of Petroleum Industry, was quoted as saying by Shana.

Boosting extraction rate, smart technologies, technical services, mechanisms of technology transfer and contract model were on the confab’s agenda.

“The seminar was a result of four months of talks between RIPI and Energiring,” he said.

According to Ja’fari-Nasr, Energiring has set up a consortium of knowledge-based companies from the University of Stavanger and Petrad Faculty for the implementation of Iranian oil and gas recovery plans.

The consortium engages in activities such as holding seminars, training courses and workshops, implementing joint applied research projects and providing public and private companies and research institutes with management and technical consultation in the Middle East, especially in Iran.

Boosting Extraction Rate

Referring to Iran’s average extraction rate of 27% from its hydrocarbon reserves, the official noted that Energiring has valuable experience in boosting extraction rate to 60% in Norway.

“In view of the fact that boosting oil recovery by only 1% will earn billions of dollars for the country, the issue is of high priority for the development of Iran’s oil and gas industry,” he said.

Iran has more than 15 shared oil and gas fields, the oil extraction rate of which should be raised to help materialize the country’s goal to reach pre-sanctions oil production level that amounted to about 4 million barrels per day in 2011. Ja’fari-Nasr stressed that although Norway’s oil activities date back to three decades, it has a leading industry in applying cutting-edge technology, including deep-water drilling operations, which can help Iran pump more oil. Iran’s oil industry started activities a century ago.

According to RIPI’s official website, Oeystein Foersvoll, the division manager of the Norwegian Stavanger Offshore Technical College, said on the sidelines of the seminar that the college’s main goal for attending the event is to launch bilateral collaboration and provide consultation for Iranian companies on workforce training, a field at which SOTS has expertise.

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Srilanka and Norway

Sustainable Development Goals: Working together for our Common Good

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

PMLakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture 2016 : Speech by Hon. Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, Executive Director, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,
Thank you, Dr Panditaratne for giving me this opportunity to speak about sustainable peace and development at this prestigious institute. The topic is very close to my heart as a co-chair of the UN Secretary-General’s Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy Group and as Prime Minister of Norway.

After having spent a few days on holiday in your beautiful country, I have already become very fond of Sri Lanka – its wonderful people, it’s fascinating culture and its magnificent scenery.

norway-pm-met-tna-1024x682Lakshman Kadirgamar, who gave his name to this institute, lost his life in search of a path to peace. This tragedy tells us how costly and difficult achieving peace can be.

Foreign Minister Kadirgamar recognised that significant change was needed to enable Sri Lanka’s communities to live together peacefully. His vision for Sri Lanka was a national identity based on pluralism. He has said that – and I quote: ‘People who live in Sri Lanka are first and foremost Sri Lankans, then we have our race and religion, which is something given to us at birth’.

8d6ffca4845598f9d79a9232e1b56f62_XLThis institute is keeping Mr Kadirgamar’s vision for Sri Lanka alive by providing valuable analyses of the country’s strategic interests in a context of changing global realities.

Since independence in 1948, Sri Lanka has consistently shouldered international responsibilities. It has taken active part in UN norm-setting processes and has provided staff to key UN positions, including several Under-Secretary-Generals. Most notably Sri Lanka has contributed thousands of UN peacekeepers to missions around the world. At present, more than a thousand Sri Lankan troops are serving in UN peacekeeping missions in Haiti, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.

These are crucial contributions not only to peace, but also to future prospects for development in countries seriously affected by conflict.

At home, Sri Lankan welfare policies have attracted international attention and influenced other countries’ policymaking. Achievements in the areas of health and education were important for Sri Lanka’s progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. Indeed, free education and health services have been provided for decades. These and other achievements provide a good basis for achieving the SDGs.

Education, particularly for girls, is a human right as well as the most effective investment in sustainable development. Women’s full and equal participation at all levels and sectors in society is vital, including in politics and business.

This will boost economic growth, help ending poverty, improve global health, protect our environment and climate and strengthen peace and stability.

As co-chair of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s Sustainable Development Goals Advocacy Group, I am pleased that the development priorities of Sri Lanka are in line with the SDGs. As Prime Minister of Norway, I am also pleased that these priorities shape our bilateral development cooperation. Key goals in this respect include:

• SDG 13 on climate action;
• SDG 14 on conservation of the oceans;
• SDG 16 on peace and justice;
• SDG 5 on gender equality; and
• SDG 7 on affordable and clean energy.

First of all, I would like to share my thoughts about why and how the SDGs are a roadmap to the future we all want.
I see the set of SDGs as the main track – not a side track – for addressing the root causes of poverty, conflict, violent extremism, refugee crises, youth unemployment, forced migration and global warming.

These economic, social and environmental problems affect all of us, regardless of where we live – or how we make a living. When it comes to achieving sustainable development all countries are developing countries.

We all need to see the link between the long-term work to achieve the SDGs and the comprehensive action needed to address what is broken in our world.

Our aim is to leave no one behind as we make progress towards the SDGs.

Why is the principle of leaving no one behind so important?

Nelson Mandela has put it best – and I quote: ‘As long as poverty, injustice and gross inequality exist in our world, none of us can truly rest.’

Eradicating extreme poverty, ensuring mothers and children do not die from avoidable complications during childbirth, making sure that everyone is nourished, and gets a quality education – all this is our common responsibility.

So leaving no one behind is the right motto for our efforts.

It is also a smart motto in our highly interdependent world.

If we are to achieve lasting peace, stop forced migration, fight pandemics and stop harmful climate change anywhere in the world, our common SDG efforts must apply everywhere in the world.

This is why we will not leave fragile and marginalised areas and populations behind.

We know from the MDG campaign that reaching the most marginalised is difficult. This is mainly due to problems of access and high costs.

It is often hard to reach people trapped in areas of crisis and conflict for obvious reasons of safety.

And it is costly because a good deal of infrastructure has to be built from scratch in the poorest and most marginalised areas of the world.

This means that people living in these areas miss out on virtually all the development taking place elsewhere in the world, and that they do not enjoy even the most basic rights.

However, this should be taken as a challenge – not a discouragement.

If it takes preventing and stopping wars – if it takes building basic infrastructure from scratch – to reach the most vulnerable, marginalised and destitute, we are going to do just that.
And we are going to do it for our common good.

The SDGs are universal. We all own these goals – and we can only achieve them together. That means that we need a strong sense of ownership, able leadership and innovative public partnerships at all levels.

Ownership is essential. It is human nature to care about what you own.

Besides, ownership of all the goals – not just by leaders, but by everyone – is crucial if we are to mobilise the extra effort required.

There are many good examples of building SDG ownership, such as the SDG consultation processes with relevant stakeholders around the world. These should continue.

Awareness and knowledge are essential for ownership. In Norway, the SDGs are to be included in our school curriculums. Ensuring free media is also an important part of our efforts.

The business sector too is taking ownership of the SDGs, as a growing number of companies align their business strategies with the goals. I have learnt for instance that the Sri Lankan textile industry has initiated energy efficiency efforts.

Today, and every day until the goals are achieved, we must take concrete steps to make the world more sustainable.
This requires leadership in all countries and at all levels of society.

There are already several examples of leadership within the private sector. Now political leaders must cultivate political will. And they must translate political will into legislation, policies and concrete plans.
Then we must finance and implement the plans.

Financing sustainable development requires domestic revenue generation combined with good management of existing resources and improved tax structures that eliminate tax havens.

This is not only a question of global leadership; it is also a question of national and local leadership. At the same time it is a question of international solidarity.

International development aid will be needed in the most vulnerable areas of the world to ensure that no one is left behind.

The 17 goals are interconnected, and many of them require cooperation across national borders.
That means that we will fail or succeed together.

In many areas, business as usual will not do. We must build new and innovative partnerships.

Governments, businesses, civil society organisations and academia must work together to find efficient, sustainable solutions locally, nationally and globally.

The best-known example of an international, cross-sectoral partnership is probably GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance. GAVI was important for the success of the Millennium Development Goals.

Let us find inspiration in the Vaccine Alliance as we form partnerships based on the new goals.

For example, Sri Lanka and Norway could work together through our fisheries cooperation on sustainable use of marine resources (SDG 14). We hope that the Norwegian funded research vessel Fridtjof Nansen will visit Sri Lankan waters next year to do a stock assessment.

I believe equity in education is the key to unlocking opportunities for everybody to enjoy a good life. Worldwide, 37 million children and adolescents are out of school due to crises and conflicts.

In Syria, for example, it is clear that the international community has done too little too late. School provides a sense of normality and hope, and helps build skills that give young people opportunities for the future. It will be even more challenging to build inclusive and sustainable societies if children and young people are denied an education.

The main responsibility for education rests with national governments. Domestic resource mobilisation is therefore crucial. At the same time, aid will continue to play a role, especially in the poorest countries, in fragile situations and for marginalised groups.

When my Government took office almost three years ago, we made education the top priority in Norway’s development policy. We are in the process of doubling aid for education over a four-year period, with particular focus on girls’ education, quality and learning outcomes, vocational training, and education in emergencies and protracted crises.

We have chosen a broad and comprehensive approach, using a variety of channels and partners. We want to spur action at the global, national and local level. Norway is a strong supporter of multilateral institutions including UNICEF and UNESCO. We are doubling our support to the Global Partnership for Education.

A substantial part of our funding is also channelled through civil society. It is important to build accountability and engagement at the community level, and local NGOs have a key role to play, involving parents and local communities.

The downward trend in aid for education over the past years must be reversed. We need a renewed and compelling investment case for education. And we need a financing pathway for achieving universal access to quality education.
This is why I initiated the International Commission on Financing Global Education Opportunities, together with UNESCO General Director Irina Bokova and the Presidents of Chile, Indonesia and Malawi. The Commission was established last summer and is chaired by the UN Special Envoy for Global Education, Gordon Brown.

In September, the commission will submit its report to the UN Secretary-General who has promised that he will act upon its recommendations. I have high hopes that this report will mobilise greater political will and more financial resources.

Reaching SDG 4 – and the other goals – will be a challenge. But the new development agenda also offers a unique opportunity. For the first time in history, we can succeed in providing quality education for all children and young people. Sri Lanka has achieved a literacy rate of more than 92%, gender parity in education, and has put an end to disparity in school enrolment. Here you are ahead of other countries in the region, and can lead the way.

Turning now to health, Norway’s investments in global health in 2016 will amount to 365 million US dollars. Our two main funding channels are GAVI (the Vaccine Alliance) and the Global Fund to Fight Aids Tuberculosis and Malaria. Both organisations are increasing their efforts and resources to help those who are hardest to reach, in line with the principle of leaving no one behind.

In conclusion, I would like to underline that the Sustainable Development Goals are not just a means of fixing what is broken in our world; they will put the world on a new, sustainable path.

It will take a lot of effort to achieve the goals, but this is our generation’s most important task. If we put our minds and resources to it, we can eradicate extreme poverty by 2030.
So let us get to work. In Norway, Sri Lanka – all over the world.

Thank you

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Srilanka and Norway

Norway, Sri Lanka renew commitment to revitalize relationship

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

PMNorway and Sri Lanka have renewed their commitment to revitalize the relationship between both countries, the Foreign Ministry said today.

The commitment was made during the just concluded visit to Sri Lanka by the Prime Minister of Norway, Erna Solberg.

The Prime Minister commenced a two-day official visit on 12 August 2016. This official visit took place in her dual capacity as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Norway as well as co-chair of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Advocacy Group, an appointment made by the UN Secretary- General, Mr. Ban Ki-moon.

Prime Minister Solberg had bilateral discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena on 12 August and she also called on Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, and the Leader of the Opposition, R. Sampanthan.

“The official visit of the Norwegian Prime Minister to Sri Lanka reflects the renewed commitment of Sri Lanka and Norway to revitalize a relationship spanning over 65 years. The Prime Minister’s visit follows on the initiatives of Foreign Minister Børge Brende and Norway’s State Secretary Tore Hattrem during their visits to Sri Lanka in January and May-June 2016 respectively, and Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera’s visit to Oslo in June 2016,” the Foreign Ministry said.

The discussions held on 12 August focused on strengthening ties between the two countries in all spheres, especially economic and technical cooperation. Norway has agreed to assist Sri Lanka develop its fisheries sector to increase productivity and sustainability.

Ways to further advance the bilateral economic agenda by diversifying areas of cooperation in tourism, aquaculture, renewable energy and education were also discussed. The Norwegian Pension Fund (Sovereign Wealth Fund), which has already invested US$31million in different sectors in Sri Lanka, was invited to further invest in emerging new avenues.

Prime Minister Solberg commended the progress made by Sri Lanka in advancing political and economic reforms and advancing reconciliation since January 2015, including the successful passage of the Office on Missing Persons Bill.

President Sirisena, while apprising Prime Minister Solberg of developments in Sri Lanka since January 2015, thanked Norway for being a longstanding and steady development cooperation partner through NORAD (Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation) since 1977. President Sirisena congratulated the Norwegian Premier on her appointment as co-chair of the Advocacy Group on the SDGs. The two leaders discussed cooperation in multilateral fora and ways to move forward the SDGs agenda.

In the evening of 12 August, Prime Minister Solberg delivered the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture 2016 on the theme ‘Sustainable Development Goals: Working together for our Common Good’.

Yesterday she visited the Mirissa Fishery Harbour, and then proceeded to visit the Galle Fort.

(N.Sethu)

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Srilanka and Norway

Intern’l responsibilities crucial : Norwegian PM

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

03-8-1140x762Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said today international responsibilities were crucial contributions not only to peace, but also to future prospects for development in countries seriously affected by conflict. Delivering the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture 2016, she said Sri Lanka had consistently shouldered international responsibilities since independence in 1948.

“It has taken active part in UN norm-setting processes and has provided staff to key UN positions, including several Under-Secretary-Generals. Most notably Sri Lanka has contributed thousands of UN peacekeepers to missions around the world.

At present, more than a thousand Sri Lankan troops are serving in UN peacekeeping missions in Haiti, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic,” she said.

Prime Minister Solberg, who delivered her speech on Sustainable Development Goals, said that Sri Lankan welfare policies had attracted international attention and influenced other countries’ policymaking.

“Achievements in the areas of health and education were important for Sri Lanka’s progress towards the Millennium Development Goals. Indeed, free education and health services have been provided for decades. These and other achievements provide a good basis for achieving the SDGs,” she said.

She said education, particularly for girls, was a human right as well as the most effective investment in sustainable development and added that women’s full and equal participation at all levels and sectors in society was vital, including in politics and business.

“This will boost economic growth, help ending poverty, improve global health, protect our environment and climate and strengthen peace and stability,” she added.

(dailymirror)

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Srilanka and Norway

TNA leader briefs Norwegian PM

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

norway-pm-met-tna-1024x682A meeting between visiting Norwegian Prime Minister and the Leader of the Tamil National Alliance and Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan took place in Colombo yesterday.

Sampanthan brought to the notice of the Prime Minister concerning various issues faced by the Tamil people in the North and East. He pointed out that even though some of the lands had been released by the military in the North and East, the government could have done much more in this matter. He further stated that the resettlement processes too could have been done speedily by the Government.

Speaking on framing the new Constitution and the processes towards it, Sampanthan stressed that the resolution to the national question must be found in the new Constitution. Speaking at the meeting with regard to the Office of the Missing Person’s Bill, Sumanthiran said it’s a positive step the Government has taken in finding the truth which would lead to true reconciliation.

The Prime Minister assured that Norway would continuously and constructively engage with Sri Lanka in supporting to its economic development and also in the reconciliation process.

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Srilanka and Norway

Norway – Sri Lanka cooperation to increase in energy, fisheries, IT sectors

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

MS08122016N_1Sri Lanka and Norway will take steps to increase cooperation in several areas, including fisheries, information technology, energy, hydro and solar power as well as oil and gas exploration.

This was revealed during the bilateral discussions held between President Maithripala Sirisena and visiting Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg at the Presidential Secretariat today (12th Aug.).

Ms Solberg expressed appreciation over the steps taken by the current government to strengthen democracy, reconciliation and development.

MS08122016N_2The President said that Sri Lanka would appreciate technical expertise from Norway to develop the fisheries industry in Sri Lanka as there are immense possibilities for growth in both sea fishing and inland fisheries. He said that Sri Lanka seeks foreign investments in export oriented industries such as garments, gem and jewellery, ceramic, plants, timber and medicine. He said that Minister Mahinda Amaraweera would visit Norway next week to discuss ways and means of expanding cooperation in the fisheries sector.

MS08122016N_3Ms Solberg said her government would take steps to bring together potential Norwegian investors and Sri Lankan partners. She added that as Sri Lanka has now reached the status of a Middle-Income Country, the focus would be to assist development and increase cooperation in trade, industry and business.

Norwegian Prime Minister praised the tourism industry in Sri Lanka and said that she had a most enjoyable holiday in the island during the last week. She added that there is immense scope for high growth in the tourism sector.

B37A7158The Norwegian delegation, headed by Prime Minister Erna Solberg included Thorbjorn Gaustadsaether, Ambassador of Norway to Sri Lanka, Lasse Bjorn Johannessen, Director, South Asia, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Borge Romsloe, Senior Adviser, Prime Minister’s Office of Norway, Espen Gullikstad, Special Adviser for Sustainable Development Goals and Prime Minister’s Office/Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway.

The government delegation was comprised of Ministers Mangala Samaraweera, Mahinda Amaraweera, Ravi Karunanayake, Dr. Sudarshani Fernandopulle, and Secretary to the President P B Abeykoon, Treasury Secretary Dr. H.M.S Samaratunga and Foreign Secretary Esala Weerakoon.

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(N.Sethu)

Maithiri

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Srilanka and Norway

Norway Prime Minister meets Sri Lankan President for bilateral talks

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

MS08122016N_3

Sri Lanka’s President Maithripala Sirisena today received the Prime Minister of Norway Erna Solberg, who is commencing a two-day official visit from today, at the Presidential Secretariat.

The Norwegian leader was accorded a guard of honor and a gun salute, following which the two heads of state held bilateral discussions.

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Later today Ms. Solberg will meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. She will also be meeting Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan.

Solberg has been invited to deliver this year’s Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture. It will take place tomorrow at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies. Prime Minister Solberg will visit a Fisheries Harbour project in Mirissa on Sunday where she will meet harbour development committee representatives. She will also visit the Galle Fort, ministry sources said.

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(N.Sethu)

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Srilanka and Norway

Sri Lankan delegation to attend fisheries exhibition ‘Nor Fishing’ in Norway next week

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

NorFishingNorway has officially invited Sri Lanka to participate and conduct a discussion on fish exports at the internationally acclaimed fisheries exhibition to be held in Trondheim, Norway next week.

Upon the invitation of the Norwegian government, a delegation headed by the Minister of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Development Mahinda Amaraweera will be participating in the international trade fair Nor Fishing – 2016 from August 15th to 18th.

The Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka Thorbjørn Gaustadsæther officially invited Minister Amaraweera to participate in the trade fair and make observation in the fisheries industry in a discussion held recently at the Ministry.

Nor Fishing – 2016 will be conducted with the participation of European Union countries and other developed and developing countries of the world. Hence the Minister states that this opportunity would be of immense use for Sri Lanka in winning the international market for fish exports.

The delegation headed by the minister and comprising officials including the Additional Secretary to the Ministry, Director General of NAQDA and the Advisor to the Minister will set off for Norway on 13th August.

(N.Sethu)

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Srilanka and Norway

Norwegian Prime Minister to be welcomed today in Sri Lanka

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

vwg151215-014-nyttaarstalenThe Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, will have her official programme on 12 and 13 August 2016. She is already in Sri Lanka on a private visit.

Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who is already in Sri Lanka on a private visit, will have an official Programme at the invitation of the Government on Friday and Saturday, The Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement today.

Prime Minister Erna Solberg will be received at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday 12 August and accorded a guard of honour and gun salute, following which she will hold bilateral discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena.

Prime Minister Solberg will also meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Leader of the Opposition R. Sampanthan.

On Friday 12 August evening, Prime Minister Solberg will deliver the 2016 Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute of International Relations and Strategic Studies (LKIIRSS), at the invitation of the Chairperson and Board of the Institute. This Lecture will be for invited guests.

On 13 August, Prime Minister Solberg will visit a Fisheries Harbor project in Mirissa and meet representatives of a Harbor development committee. She will also visit the Galle Fort.

(N.Sethu)

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Economics

Yara acquires Tata Chemicals’ urea business in India for $400 million

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

erez-e1389865210790In the biggest deal-ever in the fertiliser sector, Norwegian chemical company Yara International ASA has acquired Tata Chemicals’ Babrala urea plant and distribution business in Uttar Pradesh for $400 million.

The acquisition is on a debt and cash free basis, including normalised net working capital.

The plant has an annual production of 0.7 million tonne ammonia and 1.2 million tonne urea, and generated revenues and EBITDA of respectively $350 million and $35 million in the financial year ended March 31, 2016.

The plant was commissioned in 1994, and is the most-energy efficient plants in India, the company said in a statement.

”This acquisition represents another significant step in our growth strategy, creating an integrated position in the world’s second-largest fertiliser market. India has strong population growth and increasing living standards, and significant potential to improve agricultural productivity,” said Svein Tore Holsether, President and Chief Executive Officer of Yara.

”This well-operated plant and its highly skilled employees will make an excellent addition to Yara’s global production system,” said Holsether.

The agreement is subject to regulatory approvals in India, a process which is expected to take 9-12 months after which closing of the transaction can take place, the company said.

Yara has operated in India since the 1990s, focusing in recent years on premium product sales in the West and South of the country, delivering strong volume growth and margins well above Yara’s average for the region.

”Our growth in India can be further accelerated with this acquisition, creating a larger market footprint for Yara and enabling increased premium product sales in particular. We will place great emphasis on successful integration of the operations, and will put in place an integration team consisting of highly experienced TCL and Yara employees, the latter from both our existing India operations and our regional management,” said Terje Knutsen, SVP and Head of Yara Crop Nutrition.

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Economics

Norwegian Air’s Irish unit posts near-$60m loss

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

2016-08-12_bus_23648595_I1Norwegian Air International (NAI), the Dublin-based carrier whose efforts to launch flights between Cork and America have been stymied by US officials, posted a $59.7m (€53.4m) loss last year.

Total revenue at the airline, which is a subsidiary of Norwegian Air Shuttle, hit $719m (€644m), according to accounts for the Irish carrier.

That included ticket and ancillary revenue of $577.7m and so-called wet lease revenue of $141.2m.

The airline operates services throughout Europe, and also to Asia. The wet lease revenue is turnover NAI generates from leasing its aircraft and crew to group companies.

The airline received an air operator’s certificate from the Irish Aviation Authority in 2014.

But a delay by the United States Department of Transportation in granting NAI a permit to allow it fly to America has sparked a major political row between the US and the European Union.

NAI applied for a permit over two years ago. Earlier this year, the US Department of Transportation signalled it intended to grant the permit. But since then, the process has stalled. It’s likely it will be left to the next the US administration to deal with the matter.

Last month, the EU’s Transport Commissioner, Violeta Bulc, warned US Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx that the failure to issue a permit to NAI could damage plans for the proposed EU-US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership.

“At a time when closer bilateral ties are being put into question by many sectors of our societies, we should carefully consider the implications that this long and protracted dispute could have,” she told Mr Foxx.

NAI has established operations in Dublin to benefit from the Open Skies agreement that exists between the United States and the European Union. It enables any airline based in the EU to fly from any location in the EU to any location in the US, and vice versa.

If it secures a US permit, NAI has said it will launch a low-cost service between Cork and Boston initially, and eventually, another to New York.

US aviation unions claim NAI has based itself in Ireland to circumvent more stringent labour rules in Norway, something that NAI has consistently denied. The Irish Airline Pilots’Association has also opposed NAI’s plans to use Ireland as a base to fly to the US from Europe.

The delay by US authorities in issuing NAI a permit has prompted the EU to seek arbitration on the matter.

NAI notes in its accounts that the granting of a permit is thought to be imminent. But the assertion is certainly optimistic.
NAI said that it made a loss last year due to off-off new base set-up costs, as well as aircraft and financing costs, and that it expects to be profitable in future years.

The airline’s fuel costs totalled $153.3m last year, while its operational staff costs were $99.2m.
NAI has 50 of its own employees, who work in administrative roles, and hires operational personnel from group companies.

Catering costs totalled $22.5m, while its airport costs were $106.2m.
Irish Independent

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Peace Talks

Manila court allows Tiamzon couple, Silva to join peace talks in Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan
Court of Appeals

Court of Appeals

A Manila court on Friday allowed communist leaders Benito and Wilma Tiamzon to post bail and join in the resumption of formal peace negotiations with the government in Oslo, Norway while on trial for a multiple murder case.

Rebel leader Adelberto Silva was also given temporary freedom following a hearing conducted by Judge Thelma Bunyi-Medina of the Manila Regional Trial Court branch 32, according to the rebels’ lawyer Edre Olalia.

The court has set P100,000 bail for their release from detention on charges linking them to the mass grave in Leyte containing suspected victims of communist rebel purge in the 1980s.

Medina also gave travel clearances to former Bayan Muna Rep. Satur Ocampo, Randall Echanis and Rafael Baylosis, who appeared before the court earlier in the day after missing his arraignment in July last year.

The Tiamzons, however, could not walk out of detention yet because the courts handling their other cases have yet to approve their motion for bail.

They are also facing charges of kidnapping with serious illegal detention at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court branch 216, murder and frustrated murder in Laoang, Northern Samar and illegal possession of explosives in Toledo City, Cebu.

“We’re still waiting for feedback from these courts,” Olalia said.

The Tiamzons and Silva are considered consultants by the National Democratic Front, the political arm of the Communist Party of the Philippines, which will resume talks with the government on August 22. — (RSJ, GMA News)

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Srilanka and Norway

Norwegian PM to undertake official visit in Sri Lanka

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Statsminister_Erna_Solberg__HNorwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, who is already in Sri Lanka on a private visit, will have an official Programme at the invitation of the Government on Friday and Saturday, The Foreign Affairs Ministry said in a statement today.

It said Prime Minister Solberg will be received at the Presidential Secretariat on Friday and accorded a guard of honour and gun salute following which she will hold bilateral discussions with President Maithripala Sirisena.

She will also meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, Foreign Affairs Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Opposition Leader R. Sampanthan.

On Friday evening, Prime Minister Solberg will deliver the Lakshman Kadirgamar Memorial Lecture-2016 at the Lakshman Kadirgamar Institute.

The Norwegian Premier will visit a Fisheries Harbour project in Mirissa and meet representatives of a Harbour development committee on Saturday. She will also visit the Galle Fort.

(N.Sethu)

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Economics

Avinor looks to Asia potential

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

csm_OsloAvinor, the organisation responsible for managing 46 Norwegian airports, including the country’s busiest air gateway in Oslo, has prioritised efforts to improve air connections between Norway and Asia, pointing to potential benefits for both passengers and freight.

As part of this strategy, Avinor appointed Ulv Elbirk in a consultancy role as director Asia route development in a move effective as of August 1.

Based in Hong Kong, he is tasked with attracting the launch of direct air routes from big city destinations in Asia to Oslo in particular.

“Norway is probably one of the last under-served markets in Europe. With vast inbound potential routes, Oslo can become a goldmine for especially Asian carriers,” Elbirk remarked.

The belief is that the Norwegian business community would benefit from quicker access to the major cities of Northeast Asia in particular, and that there exists significant demand for improving transport links and cut the time of travel between Norway and Asia.

This is certainly the case for the huge amounts of seafood exports that are flown out of Norway to Asian destinations.

“Today, much salmon is trucked to other European airports, but for an Asian carrier it can be a vital boost to the route profitability when the whole cargo space on a passenger aircraft is guaranteed full on every flight no matter the season,” a statement from Avinor observed.

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Politics

Norway has little to lose from having the UK in EFTA

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Open_Europe_Norway-EUIn an interview with Norwegian daily Aftenposten, Elisabeth Vik Aspaker, Norway’s Minister for European Economic Area (EEA) and EU Affairs said that:

“It’s not certain that it would be a good idea to let a big country [such as the UK] into this organisation [the European Free Trade Association]. It would shift the balance, which is not necessarily in Norway’s interests.
This was then picked up by The Guardian and other UK outlets suggesting that Norway might veto the UK’s membership of EFTA. The comments are quite strange and somewhat premature given the early stage and sensitive nature of these negotiations.

The first point to make, however, is that it is not even clear if the UK will want to join EFTA (or re-join, as the UK was previously an EFTA member before it joined the EU in 1973). We, along with others, have recommend that it should – partly as a sign of continued engagement with Europe and partly as would be a quick way to secure a free trade agreement with Switzerland and Norway which account for 6% of the UK’s total trade (not a huge amount but together they account for a similar amount of UK trade to China).

Little changes if the UK joins EFTA
Looking at the rest of the Aftenposten article, Aspaker’s concerns seem to relate to the reduced weight of the EEA contingent within EFTA. As a reminder, EFTA is the agreement that governs relations between four countries: Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. It has nothing directly to do with the EU. The UK joining EFTA would not automatically mean it would also have to join the EEA. Likewise, the UK’s membership of EFTA would not impact on the make-up of the EFTA Surveillance Authority or EFTA Court, the supranational institutions which police the EEA Agreement but which do not apply to Switzerland.

So if the UK were to join EFTA, what would actually change in practical terms? Not all that much from what I can see. Yes, the UK would be by far the largest member and would therefore dominate intra-EFTA relations. But this would just mean the relations between the UK and the other four states, a small group and not of any great importance to any of its members (their respective relations with the EU are far more important).

One area of concern which was cited by both Aftenposten and The Guardian is that of trade, i.e. that if the UK were to join, EFTA’s other trade agreements, for example with the likes of Canada or Chile, would have to be renegotiated. However, both incorrectly suggest the UK would automatically get access to EFTA trade agreements. This is not the case, as each state has to sign up to these agreements individually (it is not a customs union after all) and the trade agreements are often conducted sector by sector with every EFTA member not necessarily signing up to every sectoral agreement.

For example, EFTA members have different agricultural policies/tariffs/quotas so they may not take the same approach. It is therefore unlikely that the UK would cause any problems for the existing EFTA agreements, and even future agreements can be agreed on slightly separate terms if needs be.

Concerns over the UK joining the EEA are more understandable
One area where it would make more sense for Norway to be concerned by the UK joining EFTA would be if it also joined the EEA and through that impacted on its relationship with the EU, which on the whole is more harmonious than that of the UK. But this would not happen merely by the UK joining EFTA. It would only have a say on EEA related issues if it were actually in the EEA. Decisions between EFTA’s EEA contingent are taken by consensus, so if one country wanted to stall the adoption of EU regulations then it could do so. But as we noted in our recent EEA briefing, this would trigger retaliation from the EU and would mean membership of the single market in that area would lapse until the regulation was approved.

One could imagine a situation where the UK were to block the transposition of new EU financial regulations, thereby triggering the exclusion of the entire EEA from the single market in financial services until it agreed to implement the regulation. But even if the UK joined EFTA, Norway would still have to approve it joining the EEA. It has been suggested (for example by Bruno Waterfield of The Times) that Norway actually wants the UK to join the EEA. They might, although I am not so sure about this for the reasons stated above. But even then, threatening to veto UK membership of EFTA would be a strange way to achieve this objective. Not least because the UK would have first have to join EFTA in order to join the EEA.

Norway can gain from the UK joining EFTA
The final point to make is that, arguably, Norway would gain from the UK joining EFTA. Specifically, the UK accounts for around 16% of total Norwegian trade – more than all the other countries outside of the EU with which it has trade agreements combined. As such, it would be a quick way for Norway to secure a free trade agreement on good terms with a key trading partner. Furthermore, it could also help boost EFTA’s profile and leverage in future trade negotiations (although for the reasons cited above this should not be overdone).

All in all, this is a hard one to understand both in terms of substance and strategy from the Norwegian minister.

(openeurope)

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Crimes

Zaventem Airport bomb scare was a false alarm

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan
epa05285708 First passenger arrive for check-in at Brussels airport in Zaventem, Brussels, Belgium, 01 May 2016. The departure hall was partially reopened about six weeks after Islamic State suicide bombers killed 16 people in blasts that gutted parts of the building. EPA/LAURENT DUBRULE

epa05285708 First passenger arrive for check-in at Brussels airport in Zaventem, Brussels, Belgium, 01 May 2016. The departure hall was partially reopened about six weeks after Islamic State suicide bombers killed 16 people in blasts that gutted parts of the building. EPA/LAURENT DUBRULE

Zaventem airport in Brussels experienced a bomb scare on Wednesday evening as two inbound Scandinavian airline planes (SAS) – from Oslo and Arlanda airports – were flagged as carrying explosives.

The two SAS flights were searched but nothing was found and the planes were cleared to resume operations.

It is yet unknown where the intelligence on explosives came from, but Belgian air-traffic control had contacted the SAS pilots to alert them about the situation. Belgium’s federal prosecutors were unable to assess the seriousness of the threat and authorities prepared for the worst before the planes landed.

Zaventem took “several measures.”

At least one of the planes was allowed to land, with passengers disembarking safely. An Air Arabia Moroc flight was diverted to Toulouse for unknown reasons. There were reports of other diversions.

Belgian journalist described how a pilot on his flight warned the passengers there may be a bomb on board 20 minutes before landing.

The same airport was attacked in March, killing 16 people in a coordinated attack against Brussels.

(Belga, Wall Street Journal, VRT,)

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