Ready to do business in Norway, after successful Belgian Economic Mission

Between 16 and 19 June, Riet Vanderbruggen, Senior Account Manager at Credendo – Short-Term Non-EU Risks, and Erik Vandebroek, Business Development Specialist at Credendo – Export Credit Agency, represented Credendo during the Belgian Economic Mission to Oslo, led by HRH Princess Astrid. Norway, renowned for its wealth and stability, presents immense business potential. Its robust economy, driven by the renewable energy, life sciences, maritime and seafood sectors, aligns with Belgium’s strategic interests and values.

This mission was organised by the Belgian Foreign Trade Agency, the regional agencies Wallonia Foreign Trade & Investment Agency, Brussels Invest & Export by hub.brussels and Flanders Investment & Trade, and the FPS Foreign Affairs. It facilitated contacts with several Belgian exporters and Norwegian companies, allowing time for a more detailed explanation of all Credendo’s possibilities.

A summary of the four-day mission

On arrival in Oslo, Credendo attended a networking event with over 400 participants from the public and private sectors. The next day, we participated in the Life Sciences day at Oslo Science Park, exploring the future of health and biotech. The live screening of the EURO 24 match in the evening, organised by Flanders Investment and Trade, provided ample time to network and present our product portfolio to Belgian exporters and Norwegian companies.

The mission delegates also took part in the Belgian-Norwegian Energy Summit at the Oslo Opera House, where HRH Princess Astrid and the Norwegian and Belgian Energy Ministers attended the seminar on industrial decarbonisation. The summit featured presentations from grid operators Elia and Statnett on green energy projects and offshore wind potential in Norway. We had informal meetings with Belgian exporters and representatives from the Wallonia Export & Investment Agency (AWEX) and Blue Cluster. These meetings focused on how Belgium and Norway can join forces for a net-zero energy transition.

Finally, we participated in the Sustainability in Construction seminar, which was wrapped up with the ‘icebox challenge’. This showcased innovative construction methods for energy transition and Belgium’s proficiency in sustainable construction.

This enriching experience has undoubtedly laid the foundation for further cooperation and partnerships between Belgian and Norwegian companies and academic institutions.