France and Norway sign green industrial partnership agreement

The signing was part of the programme at an energy forum organised by us, the French-Norwegian Chamber of Commerce, the Norwegian Embassy in Paris and Team France Export. Minister of Trade and Industry Vestre signed on behalf of Norway, while French civil servant Thomas Courbe stepped in at short notice for Industry Minister Roland Lescure, who resigned on Friday.

The aim is to foster cooperation at both industry and policy level. Through bilateral cooperation, we will address challenges and find solutions for a greener industry.

'To make industry greener, we need to decarbonise existing industries at every stage of the value chain, while creating the conditions for new green industries to emerge,' says Sigrun Daireaux, our Country Director in France.

The forum provided a platform for dialogue between decision-makers, industry, research communities and financial institutions, and helped accelerate commercial partnerships and formal cooperation between France and Norway at both political and industrial levels.

'This agreement will be particularly important for Norwegian businesses in offshore wind, hydrogen, carbon capture and storage, batteries, solar power and the maritime industry,' says Daireaux.

Panel discussions featured representatives from Statkraft, Equinor, Bellona, Maritime CleanTech, Nysnø, Eksfin and us at Innovation Norway, alongside several French counterparts. There were also short pitches from NorSun, Northern Lights and commercial companies from France.