All posts by Margrethe Harboe

Norwegian government approves Aker BP development plans in North Sea

Business News, Energy

(WO) —The Storting, Norway’s legislative body, has approved Aker BP’s plans for development and operation of the Yggdrasil area and Fenris, as well as further development of Valhall.

“With this decision, the Storting has said yes to thousands of jobs and great value creation in Norway. I am proud of what we will deliver together with our license partners. Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris alone constitute more than NOK 165 billion ($14.92 billion) in investments. We are talking estimated tax revenue of more than NOK 120 billion ($10.85 billion) for our nation,” says CEO Karl Johnny Hersvik for Aker BP.

The Norwegian share of deliveries in Yggdrasil and Valhall PWP-Fenris is about 65%, and the projects will contribute 130,000 full-time equivalents in Norway through the fields’ lifetimes. Approximately half of this is during the development phase.

Read full article.

Halliburton acquires Norwegian tech company to enable DecisionSpace 365 reservoir modeling, optimization

Business News, Chemicals / Metals, Energy

(WO) – Halliburton Company has acquired Resoptima AS, a Norwegian technology company that specializes in data-driven reservoir management. This strategic acquisition will integrate the industry-leading reservoir modeling and predictive analytics of Resoptima into the Halliburton Landmark DecisionSpace 365 suite.

Resoptima provides technology solutions that enhance oil and gas operators’ ability to harness data for reservoir understanding, driving efficiency in oil extraction, resource management and risk mitigation. To date, more than 130 active fields globally have benefited from Resoptima’s technology, enjoying improved production volume predictions and comprehensive assessments of uncertainties and risks.

Read full article.

Statsministeren besøkte hangarskipet USS Gerald R. Ford

Business News, Defense / Security

– Jeg besøkte USS Gerald R. Ford utenfor østkysten av USA i september i fjor og er glad for anledningen til å komme om bord igjen. Hangarskipets tilstedeværelse er en markering av USAs militære styrke. Men det er også et klart uttrykk for det sterke partnerskapet mellom Norge og USA, og for USAs forpliktelse til europeisk sikkerhet. Dette er spesielt viktig i en tid med økt spenning og krig i Ukraina, sier statsminister Jonas Gahr Støre.

Les artikkel.

Secretary Blinken’s Travel to Sweden, Norway, and Finland

Business News, Politics

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken will travel to Sweden, Norway, and Finland from May 29 to June 2 to deepen transatlantic cooperation on top national security and economic priorities.

Secretary Blinken will travel to Luleå, Sweden May 29-31, where he will co-chair, together with Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Tai, the fourth meeting of the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council to accelerate the global clean tech transition, hold Russia accountable and support Ukraine, and increase trade and technology cooperation. He will also meet with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson and Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström.

From May 31-June 1, Secretary Blinken will be in Oslo, Norway, where he will participate in an informal meeting of NATO Ministers of Foreign Affairs to discuss preparations for the July NATO Summit in Vilnius, support for Ukraine, and other Transatlantic priorities with Allies and invitee Sweden. He will also meet with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt.

Read full article.

First U.S. Aircraft Carrier to Visit Norway in 65 Years

Business News, Defense / Security

U.S. Navy’s newest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78), arrived in Oslo, Norway, for a scheduled port visit, May 24.

This port visit is the capital ship’s first stop while deployed to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe (NAVEUR) area of operations and provides an opportunity to enhance U.S.-Norway partnership, marking the first time a U.S. aircraft carrier has visited Norway in 65 years.

Read more.

AmCham Mentorship Program Kickoff: Ownership & Trust

AmCham News,

AmCham Mentorship Program Kickoff 2023-2024 - Ownership & Trust

The 2023-2024 and eighth edition of the AmCham Mentorship Program kicked off at BI Norwegian Business School’s Oslo campus, including 64 program participants from 30 companies across 10 industries – underscoring the unique, cross-industry design of the program. Program participants vary from continuing mentors to those who are brand-new to the program.

Karen Spens – BI Norwegian Business School

Welcoming guests to her venue was Karen Spens, President of BI Norwegian Business School. Spens, who has extensive experience in mentoring relationships, emphasized the importance of making colleagues feel seen, heard, and included to inspire a sense of ownership in the organization’s work and mission through her mantra: listen, learn, lead. Spens has truly unique insights into shaping the leaders of tomorrow, referencing the impressive statistic that one in three leaders in Norway are in fact graduates of BI.   

“Listen, learn, lead.”

Karen Spens
Participants at the 2023-24 Kickoff

The session’s second keynote speaker, Jennifer J. Linnekaste, PhD, LPC. and Assignment Manager at Panamera Executive Search, gave a dynamic and engaging crash course in Building a Strong Mentor/Mentee Relationship.

Linnekaste, a former US professor in Counseling Psychology, explained the psychology behind establishing trust, as well as the importance of aligning expectations at the onset of the mentor-mentee relationship; the two top drivers for a successful partnership. She also presented various approaches a mentor can apply in their dialogue with mentees, in addition to practical tools.

“Be present, be honest.”

Jennifer J. Linnekaste

Jennifer J. Linnekaste – Panamera Executive Search

Participating Companies 2023-24:

About the AmCham Mentorship Program

With its unique cross-industry orientation, AmCham’s Mentorship Program offers a dynamic, internationally minded arena for leadership development.

The program pairs emerging corporate talent with seasoned executives from AmCham Patron-level member companies. The result: a collaborative arena that fosters improvement and reflection, prepares young leaders for the challenges of the international marketplace, and forges bonds between AmCham’s transatlantic member companies.

The Mentorship program is available to Patron-level members of AmCham Norway. For further information and interest in the program, please contact amcham@amcham.no.

Past Mentorship Program Events

Report: Future Acquisitions For the Norwegian Defence Sector 2023–2030

Business News, Defense / Security

The Norwegian Long-Term Defence Plan outlines the continuous development of the
Norwegian Defence Sector with respect to organisation, infrastructure (garrisons and
bases), personnel (numbers, composition and qualifications) and materiel (existing
equipment and new acquisitions). The Government outlines a direction towards a
more capable and sustainable defence force better able to face future challenges
and the changing security environment.

Read report.

Meta: Our Response to the Decision on Facebook’s EU-US Data Transfers

Business News, Technology

The ability for data to be transferred across borders is fundamental to how the global open internet works. From finance and telecommunications to critical public services like healthcare or education, the free flow of data supports many of the services that we have come to rely on. Thousands of businesses and other organisations rely on the ability to transfer data between the EU and the US in order to operate and provide services that people use every day.

Without the ability to transfer data across borders, the internet risks being carved up into national and regional silos, restricting the global economy and leaving citizens in different countries unable to access many of the shared services we have come to rely on. That’s why providing a sound legal basis for the transfer of data between the EU and the US has been a political priority on both sides of the Atlantic for many years.

Read full statement.