Most important for foreign investors is availability of qualified labour and competence networks

1. Most important for foreign investors is availability of qualified labour and competence networks Source: Oxford Intelligence

2. Norway’s competence centers

3. Tourism Finnmark Space Cluster (SIREN) Offshore environment tech. Innovative tourism MedITNor Tech. AkvARENA Arena Automotive Innovative Fjord Tourism Innovative Mountain Tourism Creative Industry Integrated operations Natural Gas Wireless Future Plastic Cluster Østfold Oil well technology Energy trade and security Marine (NODE) Health&Light tech. Environment&Energy ICT Grenland

4. Norway focuses on/has strong competence in the following fields: • Networks (local and international) • Small and medium size companies with international growth ambitions • Enterpreneurship • Women in business • Youth in business • Agriculture • Tourism • Oil and gas • Health and biotechnology • Energy and environment • ICT • Maritime and marine • Creative economy

5. Innovation Norway business development projects in Estonia in 2008 • Energy and environment– together different industrial associations and clusters in Norway; different Innovation Norway offices in Norway • ICT – with IKT Norge; Innovation Norway Oslo, Buskerud, Agder offices • Maritime– with Maritimt Forum Sørost/Aust-Agder Rederiforening, Innovation Norway Agder office

6. Samples of Norway’s projects in the fields in Estonia • Networks – BSR Innonet, mapping of clusters in Baltic Sea region (Innovation Norway and Enterprise Estonia)) • Small and medium size companies having international growth ambitions – numerous samples • Enterpreneurship – numerous samples • Women in business – Innovation Norway andAssociation of Enterprising Ladies in Estonia (ETNA) microloan groups in Southern Estonia • Youth in business • Agriculture – Kverneland. Roosna Alliku farm in Mid-Estonia • Turism – Norwegian, Wilhelmsen/Reval Hotel group. Norwegians is one of the fastest growing and most spending tourist groups in Estonia. Also number of Estonians visiting Norway grew by 72% last year. Estonians had f.e 9000 guest nights in Norwegian accommodation places last July. • Oil and gas – numerous Norwegian companies and members of Estonian Engineering Companies Association • Health and biotech - ScanBalt biotechnology companies network • Energy and environment – Vardar windmill parks. Tomra recycling of packaging. Estonian and Norwegian Housing Associations co-operation projects re energy efficiency. Tartu University and Norwegian universities/institutes co-operation projects in water and waste management • ICT – Nordic Bet. Indico Systems • Maritime – Baltic Ship Repairers and Fiskerstrand • Creative economy – numerous Norwegian musicicians, dancers performs in Estonia. Tallinn airport, retail centers, hotels, tourism brochures and Norwegian designers

7. Other Norwegian projects - in business fields common to districts of Estonia • Construction and construction materials: • Loghouse producer Hobbiton and its network of local producers in Southern Estonia • Kodumaja prefabricated houses production in Tartu, incl. Estonian windows- and doors, furniture producers deliveries to houses in Norway • Furniture • Violante in Rapla County • Textile and handicraft: • Norwegian folk costume producers embroidery specialists in Tõrva, Southern Estonia • Norwegian designers sourcing activities (knitting etc) • Estonian textile companies deliveries to Norwegian sports and hikingwear producers, technical sewing (kayaks, canoes, boat covers, tents)

8. Norway has competence in areas where local/regional authorities in Estonia would need to increase their competence • Developing of networks (local and international) • Developing of local enterpreneurship, including female enterpreneurship, youth companies. Developing of industrial and technology parks and company clusters • Development of tourism in districts, leisure time (in fresh air) opportunities • Energy (renewable energy: wind, hydro, biomass) • Environment (water and waste management, energy efficiency) • Maritime (development of small harbours) • ICT (data security, public sector solutions) • What not to learn from Norway …

9. Many Norwegian small and medium size companies have comen to being thanks to an order that has been placed by public sector • Innovation Norway invests 250 million NOK in 2008 (IRD programme) to the projects whereas a Norwegian public sector or abroad client demands development of a product or service. • Innovation Norway can co-finance 25-60% of the Norwegian supplier’s development cost Innovation Norway Client of Norwegian public sector or from abroad Norwegian supplier

10. It pays off to create new contacts/tighten co-operation with Norway • There are numbers of already existing friendship cities, parishes, counties between Norway and Estonia already • To develop new: • Association of Estonian Cities - Linnade Liit • Royal Norwegian Embassy (Innovation Norway) in Tallinn • Estonia’s Ambassador in Oslo, Estonia’s honorary consuls in Norway • Map your local enterpreneurs/inhabitants contacts to Norway (try also enterpreneurs that have second home in your district or has roots there). Local people that have worked/are working in Norway. Expats (exiled Estonians, married to abroad etc). Large part of new foreign relations is based on existing personal contacts • Financing: • Use Norwegian and European Economic Area Financial Mecanisms Local and Regional Development Fund for co-operating with Norway • Nordic governments financed Nordic Council of Ministers in Tallinn finances for different culture, education, public sectors specialists exchanges with Nordic countries www.norden.no

11. Norwegians via Estonian eyes • Honest • In-formal • Do not discuss prices • Differentiate between work and free time (finish 16:00) Children and family important In average financially/mentally better prepared taking enterpreneurship risks • Creative • Equality important in society (women=men, superiors>=subordinates) • Appreciate free time and fresh air activites • Vikings and pathfinders • Proud of everything that is Norwegian

12. Summary • Norway has large potential for increasing business with Estonia. Business with Norway contributes also to the local and regional development in Estonia • Norway has competences that Estonian local governments need to increase: developing networks, enterpreneurship, turism and leisure possibilities and other • It pays off to create new contacts/tighten contacts with Norway. • Use: - Existing friendship cities, parishes, counties - Create new contacts with Association of Cities - Linnade Liit and/or Norwegian Embassy • For financing of the co-operation: - Norwegian and European Economic Area Financial Mecanisms Local and Regional Development Fund - Nordic governments financed Nordic Council of Ministers in Tallinn finances different culture, education, public sectors specialists exchange programmes www.norden.no

13. Äitäh! Takk! • Tiina Link • Commercial Manager • Innovation Norway Tallinn • Norwegian Embassy • Harju 6, 15054 TallinnTel. +372 6313 466 • tiina.link@innovationnorway.no • www.norra.ee/ www.nortrade.com / • www.visitnorway.com / www.innovasjonnorge.no