All posts by Madeleine Brekke

Restauration – the icon of Norwegian expatriate history sets sail from Stavanger

Airline / Travel, Business News, Culture / Lifestyle, Shipping & Offshore

Restauration is an icon of Norwegian emigration history from Norway to the USA, and is considered the beginning of organized emigration where nearly 1/3 of Norway’s population chose to leave their homeland.

A floating icon and monument to remind us of the situation and daily life in Norway 200 years ago. The story of an incredible journey in 1825 from Stavanger to arrival through Hell Gate in New York. A 98-day voyage through several storms in the Atlantic Ocean. 

The reconstructed replica of this ship set sail from Stavanger on July 4th 2025 and will arrive in New York on October 9th 2025.

Learn more and follow the ships journey HERE

Norwegian Government commits to allocating 5 % of GDP to defence-related expenditures

Business News, Government

The Government will invest 5 % of GDP in strengthening Norway’s defence capability and safeguarding people in Norway. ‘The world has become more dangerous and more unpredictable. Europe must shoulder greater responsibility for its own security. We must do more to keep our country secure and safe, and to contribute to our collective security together with our Allies in NATO,’ said Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Read the full press release HERE

SLB OneSubsea wins EPC contract for Northern Lights phase-two CO₂ injection

Business News, Energy

(WO) — SLB’s OneSubsea joint venture has secured an engineering, procurement and construction contract from Equinor to deliver the subsea CO₂ injection system for phase two of the Northern Lights project offshore Norway.

The scope covers two new satellite injection units and tie-in equipment, with first hardware deliveries slated for 2026. OneSubsea supplied two similar systems for phase one, completed in 2023.

Northern Lights, owned by TotalEnergies, Shell and Equinor, aims to create the world’s first open-access CO₂ transport and storage chain. Phase two will raise capacity from 1.5 million to a minimum of 5 million tpy and is supported by a Connecting Europe Facility for Energy grant.

Read full story HERE

AmCham Norway statement on US Administration’s decision to impose reciprocal tariffs

AmCham News, Government

AmCham Norway regrets the US administration’s recent decision to impose reciprocal tariffs on imported goods. The imposition of a minimum 10% tariff on all countries, with Norway facing 15% and the European Union 20%, represents a significant setback for the principles of free and fair trade that have long underpinned our global economic relationships. This decision undermines the stability and predictability that businesses rely on for growth and innovation.

The introduction of these tariffs poses a substantial threat to the economic stability and growth of businesses not only in Norway, the EU and the US, but across the globe. The transatlantic relationship, valued at $9.5 trillion and historically a cornerstone of global economic prosperity, now faces the risk of erosion. The US administration’s assessment, influenced in part by the 2025 National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade Barriers, should instead encourage collaborative solutions rather than protectionist measures. We urge the administration to reconsider its approach and engage in meaningful dialogue to resolve trade disputes without disrupting supply chains and increasing costs for consumers.

Norway is closely monitoring the situation, while the EU has indicated it is preparing countermeasures, set to be implemented in mid-to-late April if a negotiated solution is not found.

While the April 2 Executive Order includes exemptions for certain goods – such as copper, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, and steel and aluminum products already subject to Section 232 tariffs – the overall impact remains damaging. Rather than imposing new barriers, we advocate for constructive engagement to reach a solution that preserves beneficial transatlantic trade relationships. Additionally, we encourage the pursuit of a comprehensive free trade agreement between Norway and the United States. Such an agreement would not only eliminate trade barriers but also strengthen economic cooperation, fostering continued growth, innovation, and job creation.

By prioritizing open trade, both nations can reinforce the economic ties that have long united them.

AmCham Statement PDF

Secretary Antony J. Blinken and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide at the Signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation on High-Standard, Market-Oriented Trade of Critical Minerals

Business News, Chemicals / Metals, Manufacturing, Trade

Secretary Blinken stated that yesterday’s “signing of this Memorandum of Cooperation demonstrates a shared commitment to economic security in both a timely and tangible way. Developing secure, transparent critical mineral supply chains is essential if we’re going to achieve our global clean energy goals, but it’s also an essential aspect of our national security.”

Read Full Story

Journalist Tasting of American Wines – A Unique 70 Vintage Journey

AmCham News,

Journalist Tasting of American Wines – A Unique 70 Vintage Journey

AmCham and partners recently hosted journalists and Vinmonopolet representatives for a tasting of American wines at Park 29 in Oslo. Member importers Anora, Engelstad, Haugen-Gruppen, Palmer Group, Robert Prizelius, Tramontane, Treasury Wine Estates, VCT Norway, and West Coast Wines presented over 70 unique vintages currently on the Norwegian market, including newly launched products. In addition, AmCham proudly presented two wines not yet available in Norway.

Full List of Wines Presented

While enjoying wines from the Golden State and Washington, guests were able to view California-based LUCID Motors’ impressive Air Dream Edition EV.

A Journey Through California’s AVAs

Master of Wine and Head of Wine & Education at Kulinarisk Akademi, Heidi Iren Hansen Vestvik, led our Master Class – A journey through California’s AVA’s. Heidi presented a blind tasting of eight California wines, two from each grape variety, zeroing in on the nuances from different AVAs. The lineup featured the following wines:

  • Black Stallion Chardonnay
  • Marimar Estate La Masia Chardonnay
  • August West Santa Lucia Highlands Pinot Noir
  • Tyler Santa Barbara County Pinot Noir
  • 1000 Stories Bourbon Barrel Aged Zinfandel
  • Francis Ford Coppola Diamond Collection Zinfandel
  • Beringer Knights Valley Cab Sauv
  • Robert Mondavi Winery Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Photos: Julia Ardakani

Heidi is also a certified Capstone California educator and provided information about the courses available in Norway.

AmCham and our member wine importers enjoy opportunities to jointly inform on American wines. We look forward to future tastings with journalists, partners, and members!

AmCham Wine Committee

Through the collective strength of our members in our designated Wine Committee, AmCham works to increase market share of American wines in Norway, addressing trade barriers, ensuring a favorable policy environment, and educating on critical issues within the wine industry. US wine market share in Norway has increased considerably in the past years, due in large part to our committee’s tireless efforts.

Vinmonopolet sold 78.8 million liters of wine in 2023, a reduction of 1.7% from 2022. This was an expected decline, as sales are still normalizing after extraordinary pandemic circumstances. US wines represented 5.9% of total wines sales in Norway. US red wine sales decreased by 5.4% in keeping with the overall trend in red wine sales. On the other hand, US white wine sales rose by 22% and American rosés increased by 3.3%.

Mapping Vinmonopolet

The Norwegian wine monopoly, Vinmonopolet, has the exclusive right to sell spirits, wine, and strong ale with more than 4,7% alcohol to consumers in Norway. The process of entering the Norwegian market and getting wines listed is exceptionally challenging – not to mention keeping wines in stock and on shelves once they are listed. As US wineries are sourced from further away as compared to their European counterparts, shipping and logistics are significantly more complex.

Together with the other Nordic alcohol monopolies, Vinmonopolet has created a formal collaboration and binding joint roadmap to reduce emissions by 50% and ensure transparency in the entire value chain by 2030. Stricter requirements emphasize the need for clear communication and collaboration to make sure requirements are understood and that new procedures are implemented smoothly.

Past Wine Tastings

AmCham Nordics Webinar: Transatlantic Green Shift Trends & Opportunities for Nordic Champions

AmCham News

AmCham Nordics Webinar: Transatlantic Green Shift Trends & Opportunities for Nordic Champions

AmCham Norway – in partnership with Citi and AmChams Denmark, Finland, and Sweden – were pleased to host our Nordic community for a conversation with Bridget Fawcett, Managing Director and Head of Sustainability & Corporate Transitions Investment Banking at Citi.

Back by popular demand – and from her very unique leadership perspective at such a global organization – Fawcett masterfully informed on sustainability-focused transatlantic capital flows, with emphasis on capital access for Nordic green transition champions, covering:

  • International initiatives & agreements are accelerating climate finance at scale
  • Emergence of sovereign climate champions
  • Mandatory climate disclosure requirements
  • Transition technology innovations underway
  • Nature related dependencies moving up the agenda
  • Carbon credit market shift
Bridget Fawcett

Bridget Fawcett  – Managing Director and Head of Sustainability & Corporate Transitions Investment Banking

On transatlantic (Foreign Direct Investments) FDIs, Fawcett explained that US-Nordic investment is likely to continue to escalate due to our long-standing and aligned joint interests, strong geopolitical interdependencies, and technological cooperation. The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) allocates $479 billion in funding towards the green shift and have already resulted in significant capital flows to climate solutions and green technology exports, with 38% in new clean energy investments.

As a member of the World Economic Forum’s Task Force on Financing the Transition, Fawcett also acknowledged the importance of collective dedication to net zero goals, accenting that capital is indeed mobile. Nordic markets’ competitive advantages, however, are well rooted in political stability and trust.

Fawcett further demonstrated that the transition is technology-driven, with clean tech outpacing fossil fuel investments by 1.7 to 1 in 2023. Along with clean tech investment, AI is beginning to scale with likely amplification impacts across multiple sectors.

Baker Hughes wins contracts from Vår Energi for work offshore Norway

Business News, Energy

Baker Hughes announced two awards from Vår Energi that expand its regional presence in the North Sea for exploration logging, well intervention technology and subsea production systems.

The first contract, a nine-year engagement, is a testament to Baker Hughes’ heightened well intervention capabilities gained through the strategic acquisition of Altus Intervention completed in April 2023.

In addition to the interventions scope, Baker Hughes will supply all exploration logging solutions to help Vår Energi further develop their prospects in the Norwegian Continental Shelf. The agreement enables a seamless integration of Baker Hughes’ market-leading technologies into the wider operations of Vår Energi, enabling a powerful impact to their carbon reduction efforts.

The second contract with Vår Energi is to deliver a bespoke Balder field vertical tree system, a Baker Hughes technology selected for the complexities of this field.

This agreement spans 15 years, signifying a trusted long-term Future Agreement (FA) in one of Vår Energi’s core focus areas, the Balder field. The contract includes the support for existing Balder legacy wells and any future developments in the Balder area. This pivotal engagement is anchored by Baker Hughes’ distinct Norway delivery model, a multimodal site in Dusavik, Stavanger, that ensures a forward-looking local future for Norway’s oil and gas industry.

“The two long-term contract awards from Vår Energi enable us to deploy our superior portfolio not only in well intervention, but also in exploration logging and subsea production. Combining our technology, our exceptional regional expertise, and our dedication to a world-class customer experience ensures successful outcomes for both companies,” said Maria Claudia Borras, Executive Vice President, Oilfield Services & Equipment at Baker Hughes.

Full Story HERE

Minister Huitfeldt’s lecture at Luther College, Iowa

Business News, Government

Lecture by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, Anniken Huitfeldt held at Luther College, Iowa. September 23, 2023

Thank you, Dr. Johnson, for your welcoming words,

I am very pleased to be here at Luther College. A college founded by Norwegians more than 160 years ago. Its first president was Peter Laurentius Larsen – Laur Larsen. He was born in the town of Kristiansand on the southern coast of Norway in 1833. When Larsen grew up, Norway was among the poorest countries in Europe.

And many left for America. Some of them returned home, but the majority of them settled in this new land. Most of them here in the Midwest. Looking for opportunities and a better life.

Such as Niels Johnsen Kaasa from Heddal in Telemark. He left Norway in 1839 and eventually settled in Winnishiek County, Iowa. He ended up as a pastor here in Decorah.

I can imagine the young Niels Kaasa sitting on the top of a hill in his native Telemark in 1839 – before he left for the U.S. Looking out over the village, the valleys, and the countryside.

And what he saw was mostly misery. Poverty. He saw people with small or no chances of social mobility. If you were born poor then, you were destined to become poor for the rest of your life. He saw no hope. No future.

Then I imagine that same Niels Kaasa sitting on top of that same hill in Telemark today. Looking out over the same village, valleys, and countryside. What he would have seen? How he would have reacted? He would have seen much the same landscape, but a completely different country.

He would have seen a country with opportunities. Prosperity. Hope.

He would have seen people with equal chances of social mobility, whether they are born rich or poor. Black or white. Girl or boy. Educated people with all the possibilities in the world to pursue a good life.

Now, Norway is not unique in that sense. Many European countries from where people emigrated, and perhaps in particular the Nordics, have been through a similar transformation. From poverty to prosperity. And although there are many reasons and explanations for that journey, the most important one, I think, can be summed up in one word: Trust.

Trust between people. Trust between rulers and those who are ruled. Trust in the government due to trust in the system of governance.

And I should also add: Trust between nations.

Continue Reading HERE