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► Brief historical review of political and diplomatic relations
The diplomatic relations between Romania and the Kingdom of Norway were established at legation level on the 20th of April/3rd of May 1917 and were interrupted on the 15th of July, after the occupation of Norway by the Nazi Germany. On the 31st of May 1946, diplomatic relations were resumed and on the 14th of November 1964 they were upgraded at embassy rank, by opening embassies in Bucharest and Oslo.
Traditionally, bilateral relations have been open and friendly, being characterized by frequent contacts and exchange of visits at state, governmental and parliamentary level, as well as by an active cooperation in all areas.
Bilateral cooperation has been gradually strengthened after the overthrow of the Communist dictatorial regime by the Romanian people in 1989, a trend reflected by its considerable growth and dynamics in all fields. In the period following the change of regime in Romania, Norway has significantly assisted Romania both in economic and humanitarian terms, through some governmental institutions (Finansbank, The Norwegian Trade Council, The Norwegian Fund for Investments in Central and Eastern Europe) and NGOs (the Norwegian Popular Aid, the Greenland Action, the Inter-communal Committee for Romania, the Red Cross).
At the same time, Norway has been a reliable and valuable friend and supporter for Romania’s integration in the North-Atlantic Alliance, as well as for its endeavours to accede to the European Union through the Norwegian Action Plan for the EU candidate countries, mutual cooperation in several other areas.
Following the integration of Romania in the North Atlantic Alliance in 2004, the accession to the European Union and the European Economic Area in 2007, Romania and Norway will, without any doubt, further expand and enrich their relations with new dimensions and values, not only in the political and military fields, but also in several other areas, such as economic cooperation, cooperation in the field of environment, culture, education, science and technology.
Source: http://oslo.mae.ro/index.php?lang=en&id=12474
ROMANIA - NORWAY Bilateral trade
According to statistical data available for the first months of 2011, the 28.02.2011, bilateral trade registered a total of EUR 27.87 million, of which EUR 9.89 million export and import 17.98 million Euro.
On 31.12.2010 298 Norwegian-owned companies with a capital currency USD 54.17 million were registered in Romania.
Norwegian investment in Romania keep the following rough structure:
►Industry: 58%;
►Agriculture: 14%;
►Wholesale trade: 11%;
►Professional services: 9%;
►Retail: 3.5%;
►Tourism: 2.3%;
►Transportation: 1.4%.
Some of the most important Norwegian investors in Romania are: STX Europe (Korean company, headquartered in Oslo, who bought in 2009, the Norwegian group Aker Yards). The main acivitate is shipbuilding. STXEurope holds a majority stake in shipyards from Tulcea and Braila. Orkla Foods International (food - 5 plants), ICE ICEPRONAV (engineering design and construction of vessels), Moxy Trucks (truck chassis), ENSY (electromechanical). Also mentioned are major companies operating in Romania such as Alstom (on aluminum), Kongsberg (security devices), Jacobsen Electro (electricity sector), DFDS (land transport), Nord Pool and ENSI ( in the energy sector), Elkem (ferroalloys), Yara (fertilizers) and IT company VISMA.
It is expected, even in this time of crisis, further increases in transport product group, respectively semiechipate hulls but soon find and fully equipped vessels that increase favorable trade balance this relationship.
Recent experience has shown that the main exporter, STX, formerly Aker Yards, which owns shipyards in Tulcea and Braila, expanded investments in Romania by setting up other shipbuilding related companies (new investment) that produce equipment that is installed on hulls (eg electrical wiring and some electrical equipment), increasing export value of manufactured products and therefore their value.
The trend transfer / relocation of production components of this sector in other countries where the company also owns shipyards, to Romania will continue in future years, but the pace is slower because the existing real conditions, which led to a sharp decline in orders for ships Current efforts to attract strategic investors in Romania aimed at companies Statoil, Statkraft, Telenor, in a process that will likely take several years.
In April 2010, was inaugurated in Oslo Chamber of Commerce Romanian-Norwegian.
The main groups of products traded between Romania and Norway:
►vehicles
►aircraft and transport equipment
►machinery and electrical equipment
►footwear
►headgear
►textiles and footwear
►metals and metal.
Imports:
►machinery and equipment
►metals and meta
►optica
►photographic and measurement
►livestock and fish and fishery products.
Norwegian market is quite restrictive on imports, making it very difficult Romanian exports diversification.
The industrial sector is dominated by the energy industry renewable (hydro, solar and wind power), oil and gas (the world's most advanced technology in the exploration and exploitation of marine) environment (particularly carbon capture and storage), telecommunications and IT and building ship, where Romanian products find their niche hard being in competition with international companies and selected reunsocute Norwegian preferential beneficiaries.
The advantage is however a tendency for large companies to transfer their production to countries with cheaper labor, but with training and technical expertise so that, in relation to Norway is more effective to attract investors in those sectors.
Source: http://oslo.mae.ro/index.php?lang=ro&id=13787
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