This morning, I stood in Warsaw with Poland’s Prime Minister, Donald Tusk, and announced Microsoft’s latest cloud and AI infrastructure investment in Europe. Building on our initial billion-dollar investment to launch a Polish cloud region in 2023, I announced that Microsoft will spend another $700 million by the middle of next year to expand our computing capacity in the country. And we will deepen our work with Polish National Defense to strengthen Poland’s cybersecurity, including by working together on the development of AI competencies and emerging digital technologies, including new AI and quantum breakthroughs. – Brad Smith, Vice Chair & President, Microsoft
All posts by Margrethe Harboe
AmChams in Europe Joint Statement on the Importance of Transatlantic Collaboration
“The transatlantic relationship is the foundation of global economic prosperity, innovation, and security. As AmChams in Europe, we call on leaders on both sides of the Atlantic to prioritize open and constructive dialogue, ensuring that our economies remain interconnected and future-proof.”
Read full statement here.
Kontoor Brands Announces Definitive Agreement to Acquire Iconic Global Outdoor and Workwear Brand Helly Hansen®
GREENSBORO, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Kontoor Brands, Inc. (NYSE: KTB), a global lifestyle apparel company, with a portfolio led by two of the world’s most iconic consumer brands, Wrangler® and Lee®, today announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Helly Hansen, the global outdoor and workwear brand. Under the terms of the agreement, Kontoor Brands will acquire 100% of Helly Hansen from Canadian Tire Corporation.
Kongsberg landet milliardavtale med Nasa
Satellittselskapet skal bistå i Nasas fremtidige månelanding. – Norge er en romnasjon, og det må vi snakke mer om, sier næringsministeren.
Går alt som planlagt, sitter fire astronauter trygt inne i Nasas Orion-fartøy på vei rundt månen våren 2026, og snakker med bakkekontrollen via antennene til norske KSAT.
– Vi har signert en rammeavtale med total ramme på 4,8 milliarder dollar. Det høres jo kjempesvært ut, men det er fra nå til 2033, sier administrerende direktør Rolf Skatteboe i Kongsberg Satelite Services (KSAT).
Les hele artikkelen her.
Vipo Increases Manufacturing Presence in Northwest Ohio with the Opening of a US Based Swellable Packers Manufacturing Facility
Vipo is proud to announce the opening of the new Swellable Packer Manufacturing facility in Monclova, Ohio. This factory was established to better supply the long-standing oil and gas customer with swellable packers for use in installations all over the world.
The opening of this production facility is an important milestone for Vipo’s supplier-customer relationship. This expansion is extremely positive for Vipo’s U.S facility and will increase capacity and responsiveness to customers based in the Americas.
Read full article here.
AmCham Mentorship Program – Final Group Gathering 2024-25
AmCham Mentorship Program Final Group Gathering: Views on Leadership & Cultivating a Growth Mindset
Participants of the 2024-2025 AmCham Mentorship Program attended their fourth and final group gathering; the culmination of a nine-month program consisting of group gatherings and one-on-one mentor-mentee sessions for 78 participants from 35 member organizations across 13 industries. The finale, held at the US Embassy in Oslo, featured presentations by the US Embassy and Kahoot!
Jamal Al-Mussawi
Acting Deputy Chief of Mission
Vidar Keyn
Head, Commercial Section/US Commercial Service
Ingvild Næss
CIO
Leadership: Observations and Implementation
Jamal Al-Mussawi, Acting Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy Oslo, has served in multiple US State Department roles, including as Counselor for Political and Economic Affairs at the US Embassy in Oslo, Chief of the External Affairs division in US Embassy Berlin’s Political Section and Chief of Staff of the US Department of State’s Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.
Al-Mussawi has witnessed an array of approaches to leadership across countries and cultures, often with an embedded hierarchical structure. By contrast, the Nordics tend to opt for a flatter structure, which presents a valuable proximity to employees and enables close dialogue that ultimately builds confidence in the organization’s leadership. As the ‘chief in command’ of the establishment, Al-Mussawi is conscious of being physically present, even throughout the vast embassy premises, to signal availability and accessibility.
Vidar Keyn, Head of the Commercial Section at the US Embassy, represents the US Commercial Service and is responsible for its programs in Norway. The Commercial Service is an agency under the US Department of Commerce working to strengthen the competitiveness of US industry and promoting US trade and investments. Reflecting on his professional career and encounters with leadership, he stated that “interpersonal relationships are similar to diplomacy between states.” Inspired by observations from his long tenure in diplomacy, Keyn highlighted select leadership characteristics he deems especially compelling, such as showing trust, flexibility, and a willingness to change, and to be generous and give well-earned compliments.
"Interpersonal relationships are similar to diplomacy between states.”
Leading Teams Through the Lense of Opportunity
Ingvild Næss, CIO at Kahoot!, has been acclaimed by the media in Norway for her thought leadership on the balance between the individual’s need for data privacy and companies’ access to data. Drawing from her extensive tech and legal background, she has maneuvered by applying her leadership ethos.
Kahoot was founded in 2012, and today boasts of 11 billion participants (non-unique) in more than 200 countries and regions since their launch. For the innovative global learning and engagement platform, embracing experimentation and taking risk without fear are paramount to their success.
When facing a challenge, Næss rhetorically asked, do you view it as an opportunity or a roadblock? The answer to this very question, Næss argued, provides the defining clue about an individual’s outlook and present problem-solving capabilities. When addressing this question, the concept of growth mindset, rooted in neuroscience, can be applied. Referencing the book Mindset by Carol S. Dweck, Næss emphasized the belief that intelligence and skills can and should be developed. It is the belief that, also those who at some point may see roadblocks, have the capacity to develop and look beyond perceived obstacles, reminding participants that “mindset is a choice.”
"Mindset is a choice.”
Participating Companies 2024-25:
About the AmCham Mentorship Program
With its unique cross-industry orientation, the AmCham Mentorship Program offers a dynamic, internationally minded arena for leadership development.
The program pairs emerging corporate talent with seasoned member company executives. 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 member companies.
Interested in Patricipating?
The Mentorship program is available to Patron-level members of AmCham Norway. For interest in participating in the upcoming edition of AmCham’s Mentorship Program, please contact Margrethe.Harboe@amcham.no.
Past Mentorship Program Events
AmCham Mentorship Program Final Group Gathering 2025-2026
February 19, 2026
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AmCham Mentorship Program Final Group Gathering 2025-2026: From Potential to Performance Through Culture and Belonging A decade of mentorship has built a strong legacy of
AmCham Mentorship Program Kickoff 2025-2026: Self-Awareness & International Top-level Leadership
May 14, 2025
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AmCham Mentorship Program Kickoff 2025-2026: Self-Awareness & International Top-level Leadership The 2025–2026 and tenth anniversary edition of the AmCham Mentorship Program kicked off at BI
AmCham Mentorship Program – Final Group Gathering 2024-25
February 12, 2025
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AmCham Mentorship Program Final Group Gathering: Views on Leadership & Cultivating a Growth Mindset Participants of the 2024-2025 AmCham Mentorship Program attended their fourth and
American business in Europe remains opposed to US steel and aluminium tariffs
Yesterday, President Trump announced his decision to impose 25% tariffs on all US steel and aluminium imports, which will target the EU directly. This is a decision that the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmCham EU) opposed in 2018 and opposes again today. US tariffs on EU imports of steel and aluminium will have a wide-reaching and overwhelmingly negative impact on jobs, prosperity and security on both sides of the Atlantic. The damage will extend beyond just the steel and aluminium sectors, impacting all businesses that rely on these materials throughout the supply chain.
Read full article here.
FREYR Battery Announces Austin, Texas as Location for New Corporate Headquarters
New York and Austin, TX February 10, 2024, FREYR Battery (NYSE: FREY) (“FREYR” or the “Company”) announced this morning that the Company has selected Austin, Texas, as the location for its new global headquarters to geographically align the Company’s workforce with its operations and strategy to provide solar modules made in the United States. This announcement coincides with the ongoing ramp of production at FREYR’s G1 solar module facility in Wilmer, Texas, which already employs more than 1,000 people across the Wilmer and Dallas communities.
Read full article here.
USA trekker seg ut av «Global Tax Deal»
Trump administrasjonen i USA har besluttet å trekke seg ut av OECD’s «Global Tax Deal».
President Donald Trumps «America First» politikk kan nå få virkning for den internasjonale skatteretten. OECDs arbeid for å sikre at multinasjonale selskaper skal betale en minimumsskatt er et av punktene som nå kan bli rammet.
Umiddelbar etter innsettelsen har president Trump utstedt såkalte «Presidential Actions» som kan få betydning blant annet for det internasjonale skattesamarbeidet.
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Aker, SLB Capturi awarded contract for CCS solution in Norway
Aker Solutions and SLB Capturi have been awarded a contract for the carbon capture and storage solution at Hafslund Celsio’s waste-to-energy plant in Oslo, Norway. The contract will deliver a carbon capture plant, a liquefaction system, temporary storage, and loading facility at the waste incineration site. It also includes an intermediate CO2 storage and ship loading system at Oslo harbor. The project is an important milestone in the development of a full-scale CO2 value chain in Norway, as part of the Norwegian Government’s Longship project.
Read full article here.