All posts by Margrethe Harboe

The AmCham Norway team is expanding!

AmCham News

We are seeking a Member & Government Affairs Consultant to support our mission of advancing transatlantic business.

Do you, or someone you know, have a degree in political science, business, international relations or similar, and an acute understanding of Norwegian political, business policy, and commercial landscapes? We are seeking a candidate who has practical public-sector experience, exceptional interpersonal skills and professional Norwegian and English language proficiency – and a burning desire to learn more.

Join our small, dynamic team to:
• Advocate for transparent, predictable transatlantic business frameworks
• Build and nurture public-private partnerships in Norway and the US
• Create engaging content – from white papers to event concepts
• Support and engage member-companies across our diverse industry groups

Click HERE to learn more.

Skal gjøre Norge til en digital vinner – lanserer nytt veikart for teknologinæringen

Business News, Government, Technology

Målet er å styrke Norges posisjon som en ledende kunnskaps- og teknologinasjon for å skape verdier, arbeidsplasser og løsninger på de store utfordringene i vår tid.
Administrerende direktør i Abelia, Øystein E. Søreide, digitaliserings- og forvaltningsminister Karianne Tung, daglig leder i DeepInsight Olav W. Haugå og statssekretær i nærings- og fiskeridepartementet Vegard G. Wennesland

– Norge er et av verdens mest digitaliserte land. Dette må vi utnytte til å bygge konkurransedyktige bedrifter som etablerer seg i nye markeder og skaper mer. Veikartet skal peke retningen for nettopp dette, sier næringsminister Cecilie Myrseth (Ap).

Les hele artikkelen.

Norway wealth fund excludes Caterpillar and five Israeli banks

Business News, Financial / Investment
OSLO, Aug 26 (Reuters) – Norway’s $2 trillion wealth fund, the world’s largest, said on Monday it has divested from U.S. construction equipment group Caterpillar (CAT.N), opens new tab and from five Israeli banking groups on ethics grounds.
 
The five banks are Hapoalim (POLI.TA), opens new tab, Bank Leumi (LUMI.TA), opens new tab, Mizrahi Tefahot Bank , First International Bank of Israel (FIBI.TA), opens new tab and FIBI Holdings (FIBIH.TA), opens new tab, the fund said in a statement.
 
The six groups were excluded “due to an unacceptable risk that the companies contribute to serious violations of the rights of individuals in situations of war and conflict,” said the fund, which is operated by Norway’s central bank.
 

25th Anniversary AmCham Golf Tournament

AmCham News

The AmCham Golf Tournament marked its 25th anniversary, celebrating a quarter of a century of bringing together the transatlantic community for a day of golf and friendly competition! Generously sponsored by Liberty Mutual and PwC, the tournament was held at the picturesque Asker Golf Club.

Breaking previous participation records, this year brought together 29 teams and 110 players, all competing for the coveted Søderstrøm Cup and a top prize of Icelandair flights to any of their US destinations.

The tournament’s format, Texas Scramble and special hole competitions, kept the golfers on their toes as they enjoyed this special day ”at work”

The weather was on our side as the sun shone brightly from a cloudless sky, and the players competed for the third time at Asker’s stunning course. Lucid Motors displayed a model Air on the course and players could enjoy a cold beverage on the 18th hole.

Present and beaming on the course were AmCham Golf Tournament co-founders Tim Keane and Jan Søderstrøm, who have shaped what has become one of Norway’s largest corporate golf tournaments.

PwC Team 2 came in first place and won the Søderstrøm Cup, coffee and merchandise from Starbucks, AmCham whiskey glasses, and four round trip tickets from Icelandair.

Last year’s winners, Bardo Foundation, came in second, just ahead of Hard Rock,Manpower,and AmCham Guest Team in third. The prizes for second and third place included prizes from Thon Hotels, Mondelez, Amerikalinjen,Hertz, Cavour and Wabba Snacks.

Fourth and fifth place went to Google Team 1 and Global Blue Norge, taking home prizes from Kahoot!, the National Museum, McDonald’s, Odeon, Jelly Belly, and Asker Golf Club.

Embassy Team 1 snatched the prize for Best Dressed, playing in patriotic striped piquets including matching decorated golf carts, taking home an official certificate and a jerky gift basket.

As in previous years, several individual prizes were awarded. June Teigen from GE Healthcare won the women’s Longest Drive, with Erik Seeck from Google winning the men’s, each winning gift baskets from IC Scandinavia and sunglasses from Shades of Norway.

The Closest to the Pin prize went to Christian Ringvold from Aker, awarding him “Dinner for the Winner” at Hard Rock Cafe Oslo and a weekend with a Lucid Air. A total of 11 players competed in the Putting competition, with Joachim Rasmussen from PwC Team 2 walking away with a bottle of American wine and a gift card for Afternoon “Tee” for two at Hotel Bristol.

The tournament was rounded off with a delicious BBQ buffet on the terrace and celebratory cake.

Overall, the 25th Tournament was a resounding success, celebrating its rich history while looking forward to many more years of connecting AmCham members.

A big thank you to our tournament sponsors, Liberty Mutual and PwC, our generous beverage partner Coca-Cola, as well as our prize sponsors.

The increasingly popular tournament is held in August each year, on the first Thursday after Arendalsuka. For questions about participation, prizes, or sponsorship for the AmCham Golf Tournament, please contact Madeleine Brekke at Madeleine.Brekke@amcham.no.

The winning team from PwC: William W. Wittusen, Bjørn Egil Johannessen, Joachim Rasmussen, and Nicholay Tandberg

2025 Prize Sponsors

Arendalsuka 2025

AmCham News

AmCham at Arendalsuka 2025: Ensuring Healthcare Resilience in Uncertain Times

At this year’s Arendalsuka, AmCham hosted a fully subscribed meeting at Clarion Hotel Tyholmen to explore how to best ensure healthcare resilience in uncertain times. The COVID-19 pandemic pushed our health systems to their limits; there is an ongoing war in Europe; climate change is driving more frequent extreme weather; and rapid technological advances, from cyberattacks to AI, are creating new vulnerabilities. Meanwhile, the liberal world order that underpins free trade and international cooperation is under unprecedented strain.

Norway boasts one of the world’s most robust welfare and healthcare systems, reassuring patients uninterrupted access to life-saving medicines and supplies. Yet, our system deeply depends on complex global supply chains, and on the continued goodwill of our allies. This year’s discussion underscored the need for formalized cross-sector partnerships, pre-established trust and closer cooperation with our regional neighbors to ensure resilience when the next disruption hits.

 

Photos: Trond-Atle Bokerød

Lessons Learned

Our first panel brought together leaders from industry, patient organizations and public directorates to discuss the hard‐earned lessons of the pandemic and outline concrete steps for future crises. Trygve Ottersen, Director General at NOMA, and Cathrine M. Lofthus, Director General at the Norwegian Directorate of Health, both emphasized that preparedness has moved from an afterthought to an imperative. Over the past years, government and political decision-makers have updated roadmaps, white papers, and response plans to address vulnerabilities exposed by COVID-19. They also stressed the urgent need for Norway to join the European Health Union and to strengthen ties with Nordic and broader international allies, recognizing that as a small market, Norway cannot secure supply chains and expertise on its own. Magne Wang Fredriksen, CEO of LHL, underscored the critical role of the civilian sector: volunteer networks and patient organizations provide indispensable support that protects the country’s most vulnerable when formal systems are stretched.

Rebuilding the public-private trust forged during crisis was a recurring theme. “During the pandemic, we didn’t have time not to trust each other,” reflected Kirsti Nyhus, Market Access Director Scandinavia and Country Lead Norway at AbbVie. She argued that public, private, and civilian actors must normalize the rapid, cooperative mind-set that emergency conditions enforced. Without that foundational trust, any preparedness plan risks stalling when crisis occurs.

"During the pandemic, we didn’t have time not to trust each other."

- Kirsti Nyhus

Anne-Lie Öberg, Head of Government Affairs Nordics at Medtronic, pushed the conversation from crisis reaction to crisis prevention. She urged pre-emptive investment in innovative treatments and technologies, not as a luxury, but as a resource-optimization strategy. By formalizing channels for knowledge sharing and best-practice exchange, hospitals, municipalities and private providers can align their capabilities well before a crisis emerges.

Overall, panelists called for deeper collaboration within and across sectors, anchored by partnerships and measurable benchmarks. They agreed that understanding one another’s strengths and roles is not optional. Clear lines of communication and shared objectives should be agreed upon, so that when the next disruption arrives, all parties can mobilize swiftly and cohesively. But exactly how and to what degree these relationships should be codified is up for debate.

Leveraging expertise

During our second panel, Mahmoud Farahmand (H) opened by pinpointing a paradox: Norway boasts solid hospitals and advanced equipment yet faces a shortage of healthcare professionals. He argued that tapping the private sector’s expertise and volunteer organizations in everyday planning (not just emergencies) might bolster surge capacity, optimize division of labor, and ensure patients across Norway get timely care. Truls Vasvik (Ap) agreed that while “we’re more prepared than last time,” the core challenge remains staffing, calling for smarter resource use.

The conversation then shifted to whether Norway needs a life-science strategy. Farahmand insisted that any roadmap must come with dedicated funding, clear milestones and public accountability, or it’s just paper. “If there’s going to be a strategy,” he said, “I expect you in the audience to nag us and force us to follow through.” Lars Løvold (FpU) argued that Norway should leverage its existing medical technology strengths, fast-track alliances with Nordic and EU peers, and use procurement preferences to attract company investments. Vasvik downplayed labeling, stating that he is “more into action than strategy,” but echoed the call for binding follow-through on initiatives already in place.

When asked to choose a single fix to improve healthcare preparedness, each panelist highlighted different initiatives. Vasvik would work to secure Norway in the European Health Union to ensure shared vaccine and medicine access. Farahmand, agreeing with Vasvik, also pressed for a fully resourced, binding long-term plan. Løvold zeroed in on scaling up MedTech innovation, making Norway not just a beneficiary of global breakthroughs but a leading developer, user, and exporter of lifesaving technologies.

Henter 14 internasjonale toppforskere til Norge gjennom ny ordning

Business News, Education / Research, Government

Regjeringen lanserte i vår en ny ordning for å gjøre det enklere å rekruttere erfarne forskere fra andre land. Det har vært stor interesse for ordningen og nå vil 14 utenlandske forskere komme til Norge.

I den nye ordningen, som administreres av Forskningsrådet, gis Norges fremste forskningsmiljøer mulighet til å knytte til seg etablerte forskere fra utlandet. 13 av de 14 forskerne kommer fra institusjoner i USA. Forskerne kommer blant annet fra Cornell University, Harvard, UCLA og Columbia

– Nå henter våre fremste forskningsmiljøer etablerte forskere fra utlandet. Det har vært viktig å få dette raskt på plass, og jeg er glad at våre miljøer har respondert raskt. Forskerne som nå kommer til Norge jobber blant annet innen helse, klima og teknologi, og skal være tilknyttet ledende forskningsinstitusjoner i hele landet. Dette vil gjøre en forskjell for norsk forskning, sier forsknings- og høyere utdanningsminister Sigrun Aasland (Ap).

Les hele artikkelen her.

Energy Department Expands Commitment to Collaboration with Norway on Water Power Research and Development

Business News, Energy, Government

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today extended a commitment to collaboration in water power research and development with Norway’s Royal Ministry of Energy. The extension of this previously established Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which facilitates planning and coordination activities between the two countries, will further the Trump Administration’s efforts to reduce energy costs, strengthen grid reliability and security, and unleash American energy innovation as called for in President Trump’s Executive Orders on energy and Secretary Wright’s memorandum.

Read full article.

Norway prepares first major oil, gas licensing round in years

Business News, Energy, Government
OSLO, Aug 8 (Reuters) – Norway’s energy minister said on Friday he is preparing to launch a new oil and gas licensing round on the Norwegian continental shelf, the first offer of new drilling permits in unexplored frontier regions since 2021.
 
“Norway will be a long-term supplier of oil and gas to Europe, while the Norwegian continental shelf will continue to create value and jobs for our country,” Minister of Energy Terje Aasland of the Labour Party said in a statement.
 

A Message from the Managing Director – August 2025

AmCham News, AmCham Norway

A Message from the Managing Director

August 2025

Uncertainty. Negotiations. Cooperation. Opportunity!

Dear Members & Partners – as we ramp up for the year’s second half, the only true constant is indeed change. Norway’s abbreviated campaigning season will shortly conclude on September 8th. Once voters have spoken, there will be a new ruling coalition – or a reinforced Labor Party. Implications vary greatly across AmCham member industries, and we eagerly anticipate sharing our transatlantic business leaders’ pragmatic and experienced perspectives with the victors.

On looming goods tariffs, uncertainty remains – regardless of eleventh-hour negotiation efforts. The US administration’s decision to impose these tariffs still marks a significant increase in the cost of trading across the Atlantic. On the other hand, it is the beginning of sorely needed clarity for Norway-based manufacturers. These US and locally parented companies’ ability to adapt and recalibrate will remain a competitive advantage. Further implementation specifics, including what comes next for Section 232 tariffs, are now critically needed.

Increasingly, US small businesses and their customers will acutely feel the financial burden imposed by tariffs. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer’s stated ambitions are to reverse US trade deficits in goods over time, increase real median household income, and increase manufacturing’s share of GDP. Time thus becomes the operative word, as bipartisan voter patience inevitably frays.

 

"Ultimately, transatlantic energy, defense & security, technology, investment and regulatory cooperation will champion us through the current economic partnership malaise."

Jason Turflinger

Jason Turflinger

Onward Together

Ultimately, transatlantic energy, defense & security, technology, investment and regulatory cooperation will champion us through the current economic partnership malaise.

Cooperation is fundamentally based upon person-to-person dialogue, exchange – and hard work. It is decidedly not the exclusive dominion of state leaders. Remembering this, we share this warm tribute to departed longtime member Andrew Pratt. His was a gleaming example of a Norwegian-American life well lived, albeit it much too brief. His endearing personal and professional story reminds us how our daily interactions echo across the Atlantic.

Like our 129 partner AmChams around the world, we work tirelessly to bring business and government leaders together to address pain points and opportunities. AmCham Norway’s autumn schedule and initiatives are carefully crafted to address mutual challenges, foster exchange, and seize emerging opportunities. Together. Let’s get to it!

Intern Testimonial

AmCham News, AmCham Norway

Intern Testimonial

Over the course of the past year, I have had the privilege of being an intern at the American Chamber of Commerce in Norway (AmCham). Holding a bachelor’s degree in International Studies and Economics, I was eager to apply my academic knowledge in an engaging and internationally oriented workplace- and AmCham proved to be the perfect arena for this.

Throughout my time at AmCham Norway, I have had the opportunity of taking part in their mission of strengthening transatlantic business relations and facilitating dialogue between companies, industries and government. From sustainability and financial forums to tech talent network gatherings, I have been fortunate to engage with cross-industry leaders and gain first-hand insights into how businesses operate and collaborate across sectors.

My tasks have been as diverse as they have been educational. Whether it has been participating in member events, drafting social media content or supporting AmCham’s wine industry initiatives, I have learned by doing, which has strengthened my communication abilities and deepened my understanding of the complexity of international business.

"I have learned by doing, which has strengthened my communication abilities, and deepened my understanding of the complexity of international business."

Emma Giske

When I wrote my application to AmCham, I emphasized that an internship with the Chamber would be a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience with transatlantic business – an area that I someday hoped to work in. After this year, my interest in this field has only grown stronger, along with my understanding for its relevance and complexity. I have worked alongside an inspiring team, and I have had the opportunity to learn from passionate professionals across AmCham’s diverse member industries. This experience has been truly rewarding and has broadened my perspective on possible career paths within the field of international business.

When I start my master’s in economics this fall, I will do so with a deeper understanding of how important and complex international business is, and how essential it is for multiple disciplines and industries to work together. I am grateful for the opportunity to learn from experienced colleagues who exemplified professionalism, interdisciplinarity and dynamism. Thank you to the AmCham team and our members and partners who made this internship so rewarding. It has given me a strong foundation as I take the next steps in my academic and professional career.

– Emma Giske

AmCham Intern 2024-25

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