Tag Archives: 2020

Hello 2021: Lessons in 2020 Resilience

Hello 2021: Lessons in 2020 Resilience

As we acutely feel the anticipation and excitement of 2021, we are reminded of all that we take with us from 2020 – a year of extraordinary circumstance, exceptional innovation, and extreme flexibility. Despite months of home-office and frequent moratoriums on in-person gatherings, 2020 was a year of much activity for us here at AmCham, arguably more than any previous year. Thank you all for your collaboration and resilience, joining us on roller-coaster 2020. We wanted to look back on some of the high-points:

Events

Despite a continuously shifting spectrum ranging from in-person to virtual to hybrid and back again, 2020 was filled with insightful meetings and refreshing events spanning the Nordics like never before.

AmCham’s greatly anticipated Arendalsuka, 20th Anniversary Golf Tournament, and Thanksgiving Charity Dinner traditions all took on a different form. We were thrilled to offer a safe version of each gathering, thanks to loyal sponsors and a creative members who socially distanced on the golf course, streamed our Møteplass Oslo Panel, and picked-up their Thanksgiving meals to-go!

Our ongoing Financial, Sustainability, and Digitalization Forums maintained their cross-industry strength throughout the year, providing an established venue that welcomed speakers from industry and government alike.

Together with our Nordic counterpart organizations, we hosted a six-part election series in the leadup to the 2020 US Elections, engaging speakers from the US and Nordics including CSPAN’s Steve Scully, Fox’s Jon Decker, former White House trade negotiator Kelly Ann Shaw, Transatlantic Task Force Executive Director Bruce Stokes, and Ambassador Barry B. White.

The AmCham Healthcare Committee picked up speed, meeting frequently to discuss relevant topics with key stakeholders in the private and public sectors including Dr. Stig Slørdahl, Dr. Kjetil Taskén, and Assistant Director General of the Department of Health and Care Maiken Engelstad.

Programs

The annual Mentorship and Rising Leaders programs had strong years – each with record numbers of participants and applicants. Virtual and hybrid meetings became the norm as participants met with industry leaders to discuss what it means to be a leader and build a career.

Policy

With the rapid pace of innovation in 2020 and ever-changing international economy, there was a slew of policy issues relevant to our members. AmCham published Position Papers on the Healthcare Industry as well as the Food and Beverage Industry, two of our largest member groups. We also worked with members to comment on the European Data Protection Board’s Recommendations and joined together with members and partners in response to VAT Compensation Changes for International Schools in Norway.

We contributed again to 2020’s informal trade talks between the US and Norwegian governments, which were moved to an abridged, digital format.

Publications

In addition to our many meeting recaps, Leadership Interviews, and the launch of our three-question interview series, we delivered our annual Membership Guide and an important new Foreign Multinationals in Norway Report. Including statistics on the economic contributions of foreign multinational companies to Norwegian society, the report is shared widely and referenced by public and private stakeholders domestically and internationally.

We contributed again to 2020’s informal trade talks between the US and Norwegian governments, which were moved to an abridged, digital format.

Thank you!

Looking ahead, we know there is much to be done, and many learnings from 2020 to bring with us. We look forward to building upon the work we started, growing our reach, and collaborating with all of our members to contribute to the strengthening of the Norwegian economy and transatlantic relationship.

Cheers to a New Year, we cannot wait to get to work!

Thanksgiving Charity Dinner 2020

2020 AmCham Thanksgiving Charity Dinner: Upholding Traditions while Keeping Saftey on the Table

AmCham Norway is delighted to announce that we were once again able to make a Thanksgiving Charity donation on behalf of our members – this time to US-based StandUp for Kids, an organization working to end youth homelessness across the US.

Together with sponsors 3M Norge and Merck, supportive to-go guests and Hotel Bristol, we were able to raise NOK 54 300 for StandUp for Kids. StandUp for Kids’ National Executive Director, Greg Smith, sent us the following acknowledgment, along with the video that can be viewed below: 

Thank you so much for your gift! Our kids tell us that when someone believes in them, they believe more in themselves. That they get a sense of belonging. Because of you, we will be able to continue to offer homeless and at-risk youth an array of services on the streets, in outreach centers, schools, and other community sites across our 18 program cities in the US.

Your generous gift allows us to continue to serve the youth who rely on us to show up for them every day, helping them develop plans to get out of their unjust situations and move toward greater stability. We have been working to end youth homelessness for three decades, and we are not finished. Thank you for entering our story.

Thanks to our sponsors, who stayed with us through the tumult of planning a Thanksgiving event in COVID times, and our prize sponsors’ thoughtful donations, we were able to offer 50 Thanksgiving meals and many lottery prizes. At assigned times, guests picked up their meals and winnings, stopping by Hotel Bristol to say hello, and Happy Thanksgiving, to the AmCham team.

Trade Minister Iselin Nybø, who was disappointed not to be able to join us as planned, sent her greetings in a video (see below) recorded for friends of AmCham. 

We are grateful for the continued support of this wonderful tradition and look forward to celebrating with you in person at Hotel Bristol in November 2021!  

About Our Charitable Partner

StandUp for Kids is a national non-profit organization dedicated to ending the cycle of youth homelessness in local communities. Since 1990, the organization has cared for homeless and at-risk youth by transitioning them from crisis to connection. StandUp for Kids gives its youth a sense of safety, hope, and belonging through housing support, mentoring, drop-in centers, and street outreach.

About the AmCham Thanksgiving Tradition

AmCham’s annual Thanksgiving charity dinner brings member and partners together over great food, good times, and the spirit of good will to kick off the holiday season. Read more about our Thanksgiving tradtion here, and please contact us for interest in donating at amcham@amcham.no.

Reuters: Norway oil sector lowers 2019 investment forecast

Oil and gas companies working in Norway have lowered their investment forecasts for 2019 to 172.7 billion crowns ($20.1 billion) from 175.3 billion crowns seen in November, a survey by the country’s statistics agency (SSB) showed on Thursday.

In 2020 investments are expected to fall to 158.5 billion crowns, according to initial forecasts, though the forecasts could be revised upwards in the months to come, it added.

Read entire article HERE.

See the SSB article on the survey (Norwegian) HERE.