The North Dakota Trade Office is excited to announce a Nordic Trade Mission to take place October 22-31, 2015. This trade mission will travel to Norway, Sweden, and Finland to promote North Dakota’s unmanned aerial systems (UAS), education, and agri-business industries.
The UAS sector will focus on networking with Nordic companies that will compliment UAS activities and economic opportunities in North Dakota. The education sector will focus on coordinating cross-instructional opportunities for professors and student exchanges between North Dakota and Nordic universities and research centers. The agri-business sector’s focus will vary, based on the needs and priorities of the delegates.
The North Dakota Trade Office (NDTO) is working closely with the U.S. Commercial Service offices in each country to coordinate in-country meetings and events for all participants. Participants can determine which country or countries they’d like to visit during the mission.
This trade mission follows a visit in May from the Head of the Commercial Section at the U.S. Embassy in Oslo, Vidar Keyn. Mr. Keyn discussed emerging opportunities in Norway for North Dakota industries including: value-added foods, unmanned aerial systems, defense, medical services, energy and education.
This will be the NDTO’s second trade mission to Norway since Gov. Jack Dalrymple led a delegation of business and government leaders to Norway in June 2013. That mission included the signing of a sister-region agreement between North Dakota and the Telemark region of Norway. Telemark County Mayor, Terje Riis Johansen, and Gov. Dalrymple signed the agreement in order to enhance mutual understanding and bilateral relations between the regions with particular focus on economic development through trade, culture and education.
Norway, with a population of only 5 million, is one of the world’s wealthiest nations per capita. The country has low barriers to entry for foreign businesses and an investment mindset that encourages international participation.
If you would like to learn more about the Nordic Trade Mission or are interested in participating, please contact Donavon Johnson at donavon@ndto.com