All posts by Margrethe Harboe

White House Releases The Biden-⁠Harris Economic Blueprint

Business News, Government

Today, the White House is releasing the President’s Economic Blueprint, explaining how his historic legislative successes, and executive actions the Administration has taken, are rebuilding the economy from the bottom up and middle out now and for years ahead.

The President’s first two years in office have been two of the most productive in American history, and as the Blueprint explains, these accomplishments are all part of one economic vision. This Congressional session, the President and Congressional Democrats passed the most aggressive economic recovery package since FDR, the most substantial infrastructure investment since Eisenhower, the most significant investment in manufacturing and research and development in history, and a historic law to lower costs for families and accelerate clean energy manufacturing.

Read full statement.

Equinor completes exit process from Russia

Business News, Energy

On 25 May 2022, Equinor announced its exit from the four joint ventures with Rosneft as well as the signing of an agreement to leave the Kharyaga project.

Equinor can now confirm that the full exit from Kharyaga has also been completed.
As part of the exit from Kharyaga, Equinor has in compliance with applicable sanctions covered decommissioning liabilities accrued and owed by Equinor over the years.
Following the exit from Kharyaga, Equinor has no remaining assets or projects in Russia.

Read full article.

US Energy Technologies and Initiatives at ONS

AmCham News

US Energy Technologies and Initiatives at ONS – Shaping a Safer, Cleaner Future TOGETHER

“The forces of global decarbonization and the COVID-19 pandemic have underlined how it is only by working together that we can solve the biggest challenges that face both our industry and our world.”

With a robust energy transition portfolio – and five ABS worldwide centers dedicated to sustainable solutions for maritime operations – Miguel Hernandez, Senior Vice President for Global Offshore, thus jointly opened our mainstay US Energy Technologies and Initiatives reception at the fitting ONS Houston Pavilion.

Hosted by US Ambassador Marc Nathanson, the US Commercial Service, AmCham, ABS and City of Houston partners, a capacity 150 invited partners gathered on a conference kick-off day not experienced since 2018.

“The forces of global decarbonization and the COVID-19 pandemic have underlined how it is only by working together that we can solve the biggest challenges that face both our industry and our world.”

Miguel Hernandez, ABS
US Ambassador Marc Nathanson

In his first visit to ONS, Ambassador Marc Nathanson noted that we are at a crossroad. “It is up to all of us to make bold decisions. In the United States we are doing our part, signing a bill that will go a long way toward reducing emissions. The legislation includes nearly $370 billion toward energy security and climate change mitigation, which is truly unprecedented.”

 

Referencing shared US-Norway Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies leadership, Ambassador Nathanson spotlighted current US Department of Energy initiatives on six full-scale industrial projects, removing millions of tons of CO2 from the atmosphere every year. “This is a path we share together with Norway.”

 

Having previously lived in Norway’s energy capital, Schlumberger Vice President and Director of Government & Industry Affairs Bruce Miller warmly exclaimed the swift pace of progress – in both Houston and Stavanger – he has witnessed over the past 20 years. From electric vehicles to windfarms and multi-company initiatives like the Houston Hydrogen Hub, “we are making rapid progress in the energy evolution.”

Miguel Hernandez, Senior Vice President for Global Offshore at ABS
Bruce Miller, Vice President and Director of Government & Industry Affairs at Schlumberger

Arendalsuka 2022 – Collaboration Driving Innovation in Healthcare

AmCham News,

AmCham at Arendalsuka 2022 - Collaboration Driving Innovation in Healthcare

This year at Arendalsuka, AmCham hosted a meeting addressing the question: “How can we best work together to accelerate healthcare innovation and research in Norway.” AmCham members represent 21 industries, with a significant number of those within the healthcare and technology sectors. In Arendal, our presenters emphasized how public-private partnerships can improve public health by further utilizing innovations brought to market by our member companies.

All public-private partnership stakeholders were present at Clarion Tyholmen; (1) Policy makers, represented by parliamentarians Alfred Bjørlo (The Standing Committee on Business and Industry, Liberal Party) and Truls Vasvik (The Standing Committee on Health and Care Services, Labour Party). Both MPs emphasized the potential for increased collaboration across the sectors and the health industry as an important growth industry for Norway.

Vidar Sie, AmCham
Thomas Anglero, Cognizant; Trine Strømsnes, Cisco; Atle Spilde, Microsoft; Linn Mandahl, AbbVie

(2) Private sector, represented by member companies Microsoft (Atle Spilde, Director Public Sector), AbbVie (Linn Mandahl, General Manager) and Cisco (Trine Strømsnes, General Manager). This session was moderated by Thomas F. Anglero (Nordic CTO and Innovation Officer, Cognizant). Here, real life examples were presented showing how AI from Microsoft is used for processing enormous data in neuro research, how patient apps from AbbVie improve quality of life and potentially reduce hospitalization, and how cutting-edge VC systems from Cisco effectively bring knowledge from centers of excellence to rural areas securing faster and better cancer treatment at local hospitals.

(3) Public sector, represented by Prof. Kjetil Taskén, (Head and Director of Institute of Cancer Research at Oslo University Hospital). Taskén presented the CONNECT public-private partnership, a national precision cancer medicines initiative comprising 28 partners – of which one half are pharma companies, and the other half are public partners, biotech companies and NGOs. The initiative has attracted considerable interest, and public funding raised so far amounts to approx. €20m. Parliamentarian Truls Vasvik  concluded the meeting by, inviting the audience to continue the dialogue with him directly– affirming the collaborative stance.

Going forward, accelerated access to healthcare innovation for Norwegian patients will hinge upon:

AmCham will continue to work diligently on all fronts.

Truls Vasvik, Labour Party
Kjetil Taskén, Oslo University Hospital
Alfred Bjørlo, Liberal Party

Presenting Member Companies:

Equinor: Profits up, carbon down in high graded U.S. portfolio

Business News, Energy

In the first six months of 2022, equity oil and gas production from the US was 332,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd) – 18% lower than the corresponding period last year following the 2021 sale of the Bakken assets. Despite lower production, net operating income increased to 2.2 billion USD – more than six times higher than the first half 2021.

Read full article.

Broker Marsh launches world first insurance for hydrogen projects

Business News, Insurance

LONDON, Aug 22 (Reuters) – Broker Marsh, a unit of Marsh & McLennan (MMC.N), said on Monday it was launching the world’s first dedicated insurance for hydrogen energy projects, as the nascent industry looks to scale up quickly in the fight against climate change.

As the world targets net-zero emissions by mid-century in an effort to cap global warming, hydrogen, particularly “green” hydrogen made from renewable energy sources, is seen as a crucial means of getting there.

Read full article.

Norse Atlantic Airways announces new airline partnerships that will provide over 600 weekly connections across key European and U.S. hubs

Airline / Travel, Business News

Norse Atlantic Airways is pleased to announce that from today customers looking to explore the world for less will have access to even greater choice and convenience as we launch our connectivity partnership with easyJet, Norwegian and Spirit Airlines. The virtual interline agreement, powered by Dohop, will provide over 600 weekly connections to Norse’s transatlantic services at our key international hubs Oslo, London, Berlin, New York, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando and Los Angeles.

The partnership with easyJet will provide customers with convenient access to an extensive range of European destinations that connect with Norse’s flights from London Gatwick to New York JFK, Berlin to New York JFK and Berlin to Los Angeles.

From Oslo, our partnership with Norwegian will allow customers to easily book flights to domestic, Scandinavian and European destinations with connections onto Norse’s services to New York JFK, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles and Orlando.

Read full article.

AmCham Mentorship Program – Group Gathering 2, 2022

AmCham News,

AmCham Mentorship Program - 2nd Group Gathering

Participants of the 2022-2023 edition of the AmCham Mentorship Program attended their second group gathering at EY’s Oslo Barcode office, featuring presentations by Christin E. Bøsterud, Managing Partner at EY Norway and Alisdair Munro, Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry.

Christin E. Bøsterud

Managing Partner

EY

Alisdair Munro

Senior Client Partner

Korn-Ferry-vector_logo

“Leadership changes everything.”

Alisdair Munro

Welcomed by EY Partner Marius Leivestad, the program kicked off with Alisdair Munro who is part of Korn Ferry’s Technology and CEO & Board Practices in EMEA. Korn Ferry is a global organizational consulting firm, advising organizations on human capital. With a 30-year leadership and executive career, Munro draws from experience spanning the air transport industry, telecommunications/ICT and industry politics. For the diverse group of participants representing over 10 different industries, he presented Return on Leadership & Enterprise Leadership. Referencing findings from Korn Ferry’s recent report on enterprise leadership,  Munro explained how “leadership changes everything”, and how today’s enterprise leaders must embody change and change the business, as opposed to merely running the business. Munro also introduced the concept of ROL (return on leadership), as a key concept for enhanced business performance.

Program participants
Marius Leivestad, EY
Christin E. Bøsterud, EY
Alisdair Munro, Korn Ferry
Program participants

To follow, Christin E. Bøsterud, who is also EY’s Nordic Chief Sustainability Officer, presented Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion – Walking the Talk et EY. A lawyer with a PhD in ethics and committed to diversity and inclusion at all levels – including leadership – Bøsterud is a Nordic sponsor of EY’s Women. Fast Forward program. Motivated on personal and professional level, Bøsterud approaches diversity beyond “typical” discrimination as it pertains to gender, and considers cultural and professional background, age, disabilities and other differences. As for equity, it’s “not just new shoes, but making sure they fit”, ensuring that the tools and systems deployed for fair and impartial treatment ultimately work. Inclusion starts in the hiring process and is upheld by creating an environment where individuals, of any “rank”, dare to contribute to the solutions and raise challenges. In addition, Bøsterud explained the importance of not just role models, but relatable role models; ones that represent characteristics beyond the scope of the so-called norm.

Participating Companies 2022-23:

IMG_20220616_095002
Program participants

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 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 member companies.

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

Past Mentorship Program Events

AAP Aviation to Develop Electric Regional Air Mobility in Norway With the Lilium Jet

Airline / Travel, Business News

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom, July 19, 2022: Lilium N.V. (NASDAQ: LILM) (“Lilium”), developer of the first all-electric vertical take-off and landing (“eVTOL”) jet, has signed an agreement with AAP Aviation Group AS (“AAP Aviation”) to develop an eVTOL network in Scandinavia. Under the agreement, AAP Aviation intends to purchase 40 Lilium Jets and collaborate with Lilium to identify and develop landing sites in the Scandinavian countries, starting with Norway.

Together, AAP Aviation and Lilium plan to offer sustainable travel mobility to Scandinavia using the all-electric Lilium Jet, supplementing existing regional aircraft routes and ensuring flexible and time-saving low-emission travel between cities and communities. AAP Aviation and Lilium expect the market for on-demand aviation services to grow rapidly, pending authority approval of aircraft models and route infrastructure.

Espen Høiby, CEO of AAP Aviation said: “We have disrupted the aviation industry once before and are set do so again. Due to the mix of water, terrain and mountains, Norway is particularly suited to regional air mobility. With its vertical take-off and landing capability, high speed and regional range, the Lilium Jet can achieve hours of time savings compared with today’s transportation modes. The Lilium Jet performance, its low noise profile and its spacious cabin makes the ideal aircraft to develop sustainable air transport in Scandinavia.”