NBCC’s New President

By Juliana Tafur, Editor & Publisher

RIO DE JANEIRO – Johnar Olsen is the new chairman of the Norwegian Brazilian Chamber of Commerce. He’s also the president of Scana do Brasil Industrias Ltda – a Norwegian company servicing the marine, energy and steel industries. A mechanical engineer, Olsen previously worked for Aker Solutions and Instok.

By looking at him you’d think he’s a Norwegian expatriate working in Rio de Janeiro, but he isn’t. He’s a 4th generation Norwegian Brazilian, belonging to a family of nearly 2,000 – all descendants of a man named Gjert Olsen. In search of a better life, his ancestor decided to sail south in 1850. More than 100 other men were part of the voyage, meant to go to San Francisco, California during the gold rush.

But due to rough conditions at sea, and having to make their way through the Cape Horn, the voyage made it only to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. With a deteriorated ship, the captain decided he wouldn’t venture any further. Some of the passengers, Gjert Olsen among them, had no money to go forward nor back to Norway.

Months later, 24 of the original men embarked on another ship going to San Francisco – only to realize they were being taken to São Francisco do Sul and not San Francisco, CA. Regardless, Gjert Olsen started a life in Brazil’s south, found work as a practical engineer in the king’s carriage factory and married a Swiss lady.

A century and some decades later, Johnar Olsen was born in Lages, Santa Catarina. Having lost some of his Norwegian culture throughout the generations, he says: “Interestingly, I coincidentally landed a job at Scandinavian company Kamyr, and having been close to Norwegians for more than 15 years, I’m now able to understand better my own family.”

This has also meant understanding how to do business with Norwegians, who he considers very honest, humble and fair with their employees. “Norwegians,” says Olsen, “are very mindful of the international market and knowledgeable of the latest technology.”

Because of his Brazilian background, Olsen brings to the table creativity, motivation and flexibility. “Understanding both sides of the equation helps me facilitate business for the Norwegian community in Brazil,” he adds.

With this mediator spirit, Olsen joins NBCC as president, having been a member of the chamber for nearly ten years. Olsen sees NBCC as a “senior entity”, responsible for assisting in the promotion of trade between Norway and Brazil, as well as providing market intelligence and networking.

“As board member,” says Olsen, “I worked to increase NBCC’s position locally. Now, as president, I’d like to see the chamber grow to 100 members, from the current 60.”

Olsen would also like NBCC to be more active, becoming a source of information for Norwegian companies just getting established in Brazil. Strengthening NBCC’s relationship with the Brazil Norway Chamber in Oslo is also at the cornerstone of Olsen’s plans. His hope is that the two organizations can cooperate on events and benefit their members.

“It’s a pleasure for me to be in this position in the Norwegian community 160 years after my ancestors came from Norway,” Olsen says.