SUMMIT: President Volodymyr Zelenskyj and Chief of Staff Andrij Jermak (TV) met 14 large Norwegian companies in the government’s representative residence on Wednesday. Photo: Stian Lysberg Solum / NTB
During the visit to Norway, Zelenskyj met Norway’s business elite. – Poignant, says the Statkraft boss.
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- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj visited Norway on Wednesday.
- Zelenskyj also held a seminar with Norwegian business leaders.
- There, Zelenskyj invited the Norwegian defense industry to establish themselves in Ukraine.
- He also asked Norwegian companies to help rebuild the country after the war.
- Companies in the Ukraine network, coordinated by NHO, already work in Ukraine and want to contribute to the country’s needs during and after the war.
Sea view
Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyi was on an unannounced visit to Norway on Wednesday.
During a packed day, he met the heads of state for those the Nordic countriesspoke for the Storting and met the king at the Palace.
In addition, he devoted 45 minutes to a round-table seminar with Norwegian business leaders in the government’s representative residence.
– It made a strong impression to meet him, says NHO chief Ole Erik Almlid to VG.
– Poignant, says CEO of Statkraft, Christian Rynning Tønnesen.
– What he stands for is beyond the issues I face on a daily basis. Saving an entire nation is a few levels above ensuring that there is enough energy in each country, the Statkraft boss continues.
The meeting participants with whom VG has been in contact state that the conversation mainly revolved around two things:
- The role Norwegian companies play in Ukraine today
- The role of Norwegian companies in the reconstruction of Ukraine after the war
ENTRÉE: President Volodymyr Zelenskyj arrives at the meeting flanked by Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and NHO chief Ole Erik Almlid. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB
The business leaders present represent companies that joined together at the start of the year to form the “Ukraine network”.
According to NHO, which coordinates the project, the companies want to contribute to Ukrainian needs during the war and in the reconstruction phase afterwards.
– Several of them are active in Ukraine today. These companies have put a lot of effort into maintaining their activity as far as possible in war, says NHO CEO Ole Erik Almlid.
He highlights the solar energy company Scatec, the IT company Itera, and the technology and consulting company Tietoevry as examples.
– The president was particularly concerned about it. He highlighted that as part of Ukraine’s growth in GDP GDP Gross domestic product – the sum of all goods and services produced in a country during a year, minus the goods and services used during this production. (SSB) during the year, says Almlid.
INVITES: Zelenskyj must have been clear that his country needs Norwegian investment to build up its own business life after the war. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB
The fertilizer and chemical company Yara also operates in Ukraine – under demanding conditions, according to CEO Svein Tore Holsether.
– Ukraine plays a critically important role for world food security. I am concerned that the world’s dependence on Russia for food and fertilizer is increasing in line with reduced exports from Ukraine, says Holsether.
He adds that the company is working to ensure Ukrainian farmers access to fertilizer and to strengthen the European fertilizer industry to reduce food dependence on Russia.
WATCH: Zelenskyj meets the king
Info
These attended the meeting
- Chairperson Ketil E. Bøe
- CEO Walter Øverland
- Vice president Ole Aguirre
- Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram
- Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyj
- Head of office Andrij Jermak
- CEO Christian Pedersen
- President and CEO Arne Mjøs
- CEO Joar Viken
- President and CEO Morten Brandtzæg
- President and CEO Geir Håøy
- President and CEO Øyvind Eriksen
- President and CEO Christian Rynning-Tønnesen
- President and CEO Anders Opedal
- Director General Ole Erik Almlid
- President and CEO Svein Tore Holsether
- President and CEO Kjerstin Braathen
- President and CEO Remi Eriksen
Source: NHO
Sea view
NHO chief Ole Erik Almlid adds that the Ukrainian president emphasized the need for Norwegian arms production.
The Kongsberg group, among other things, produces components for the NASAM air defense system, which Zelenskyj praised during the meeting, according to a statement published on the president’s official website.
In addition, he challenged the representatives of the defense industry to move their production to Ukraine. Managers from the Kongsberg Group, NFM Group and Nammo attended the meeting.
“The head of state thanked all Norwegian defense companies that produce weapons that help Ukrainians protect their lives, and invited them to locate production in Ukraine,” the press release says.
Same day announced the government that it will donate more NASAM material to Ukraine for NOK 355 million.
GREETING ROUND: CEO of Statkraft, Christian Rynning Tønnesen greets the Ukrainian head of state. On the left, CEO of Equinor Anders Opedal. Photo: Annika Byrde / NTB
The majority of the meeting was about what Norwegian business can contribute after the war, says Statkraft CEO Christian Rynning Tønnesen.
– He was clear that they wanted jobs and to build up a business community themselves. At the same time, he would like Norwegian companies to come there with the expertise we have.
Rynning-Tønnesen emphasizes that Ukraine can be attractive for investments in wind power, solar power, IT and agriculture.
– Is it appropriate to invest in Ukraine even if the projects are not profitable?
– For the companies, it must be profitable to enter. This is not about gifts, but investments. It is the task of states and countries to contribute with financial support.
– And for Ukraine’s part, it is important that it the business which is developed after the war is sensibly and with a green bottom line, otherwise you build the wrong industry, says Rynning-Tønnesen.
At 10 o’clock on Thursday morning, Zelenskyj left the Grand Hotel and was driven in a motorcade out of the capital. Closer to 1 p.m., the president’s plane took off from Gardermoen.
Published:
Published: 14.12.23 at 21:40
2023-12-14 20:40:58
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