Luncheon at Firjan, São Paulo

Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Dear hosts,

Economic co-operation is one of the most important elements of international relations This is reflected in the programmes for our state visit to Brazil. In addition it is always a pleasure for me to meet representatives of business communities during my official visits abroad.

I am particularly pleased to be together with you here in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil is by far the most important Latin American market for Norway, and Rio de Janeiro is the centre of Norwegian commercial activities in Brazil. Some of those represented here today are already well established in Brazil, others are taking this opportunity to look into the opportunities offered by the Brazilian market.

Economic co-operation is important in a wider context as well. At Copacabana Palace last night, I mentioned the UN Millennium Development Goals, whose overall objective is to reduce poverty and promote economic and social development for people throughout the world. We all share the responsibility for achieving these goals. This, of course, is why corporate social responsibility has been on the agenda this morning. Companies conscious of their responsibility are concerned not only with profit but also with the welfare and working conditions of their employees as well as the impact of their business on environment.

Corporate social responsibility has become a key issue not only for organisations like FIRJAN and the Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry, but also for many individual companies. I am confident that it will also be an integral and important element of the future co-operation between Brazilian and Norwegian industries.

Various other business seminars are taking place here today, organised by FIRJAN and the Norwegian Trade Council. FIRJAN represents more than 16,000 associate industry and business members, and I am sure that the morning’s seminars and discussions have been fruitful.

Brazil has been an important market for certain sectors of Norwegian industry for many years. For a long time, the largest export commodity from Norway to Brazil has been bacalhao, and it still accounts for more than one third of total exports from Norway to Brazil. This should provide for good opportunities to expand bilateral trade and co-operation in the fishery sector.

Another sector that is important in both Norway and Brazil is shipping. At this very moment, the Queen is at the Promar shipyard, where she is to christen the supply vessel Norskan Leblon. This project is an excellent example of Brazilian-Norwegian co-operation. The vessel has been constructed in Brazil at a partly Norwegian-owned yard, and has been sold to a Norwegian company to operate on the Brazilian continental shelf.

Both our countries are also heavily involved in the offshore oil and gas sector. Brazil is a leading country in deep-water exploration and production. Norway is a world leader in the development of new technology for offshore exploration and production. This should offer extensive opportunities for further co-operation.

More recently we have seen a substantial increase in Norwegian investments in Brazil in various other sectors. A good starting point for building such relations is to know the language and culture of the partner country. The exchange programmes between Norwegian and Brazilian universities give young people an excellent opportunity to learn more about each other’s society, customs and language. When they return home, they take with them knowledge and contacts that can be used in building close bilateral relations, not least in the commercial field.

Meeting places like the one here today are also very important in this connection. Those of you who are taking part here today represent business communities with extensive resources, know-how and capacity. I hope that in addition to discussing topics of mutual interest, you are able to find new ways of working together, for your own benefit and the benefit of the Brazilian-Norwegian partnership. I wish you all the best in your further efforts.

Thank you.