The National Budget and exports

Fewer and fewer people are working to promote Norwegian exports abroad, while our neighbouring countries have stepped up their efforts. We find this concerning.
bilde av vinnerne av Eksportprisen
From the 2023 Export Conference: Innovation Norway, Eksfin and the Minister of Trade and Industry with the winners of the Export Award and Newcomer of the Year. From left: our CEO Håkon Haugli; Laerdal Medical CEO Alf-Christian Dybdahl; Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre; Econnect Energy CCO Magnus Eikens and CFO Miriam Emilie Wennberg; and Eksfin CEO Tone Lunde Bakker.
© Kilian Munch

'We are concerned that increasingly ambitious export targets are not being matched by the resources needed to support Norwegian companies in international markets. We know that companies benefit from this support and that it delivers results in the form of contracts between international buyers and Norwegian suppliers. The work to increase Norwegian exports happens out in the world, not here at home,' says our CEO, Håkon Haugli.

Through the 'All of Norway Exports' reform, the government has introduced targeted measures to achieve its ambition of increasing non-oil and gas exports by 50% by 2030. These include strategic export initiatives. Two have been launched so far, focusing on offshore wind and the green maritime sector.

Taken together, these initiatives and those planned will increase our capacity abroad, but the broader cuts are greater. The overall trend therefore remains downward.

Since the Norwegian Trade Council was part of the merger in 2004, we have served as Norway's official Trade Promotion Organisation (TPO), with permanent staff supporting Norwegian companies in key international markets. Over time, our presence has declined. Compared both with ten years ago and with the resources our neighbouring countries invest in supporting their companies, Norway now has a limited international presence.

- Ten years ago, we had 210 export advisers in key international markets for Norwegian exports. This year, we have 100 fewer, Haugli confirms.

- We know our services deliver results. In our customer impact surveys, more than 50% of our customers say that the lack of a strategic partner in the relevant markets is a barrier to exporting.

- 'There will be no new exports without contracts between Norwegian suppliers and international buyers,' says Haugli.

Published 6 Oct 2023Last updated 7 Oct 2023
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