Norwegian Ministers Visit Brazil (strategy available)

By Juliana Tafur, Editor & Publisher

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Minister of the Environment and International Development Erik Solheim were in Brazil last week presenting the Norwegian government’s strategy for Norway’s cooperation with Brazil.

In a lunch event planned and hosted by the Norwegian Brazilian Chamber of Commerce at Rio de Janeiro’s Yacht Club, Minister Støre addressed an audience of more than one hundred Norwegian and Brazilian business people.

“I am here to present to you the Brazil strategy, because we realize there is no other country with which Norway has a stronger developing relationship with than Brazil,” said the minister.

His first time in the country, the minister added, “this visit is something I’ve been looking forward to for many years. I am now erasing a black spot on my CV, since I’m finally here.”

There are more than 100 Norwegian companies operating in Brazil, and according to the minister, Norway is now Brazil’s 7th largest investor. The strategy comes in good time, affirming Norway’s commitment towards the South American country. “We now have the opportunity to develop our relations with Brazil into a partnership. The strategy will be an important tool for the [Norwegian] government in this process,” said Støre.

Now translated into four languages and available on the NBCC website, the strategy is divided into business, climate change and environment, indigenous peoples and human rights, culture and knowledge development. The document reflects the contributions of Brazilian and Norwegian business leaders, and Støre says the NBCC was key in helping them achieve the final results.

“I want to be clear that this is not the Foreign Ministries’ document, and not even the Norwegian Government’s strategy for Brazil, this is your document,” emphasized the minister, as he addressed some of the prominent business leaders in the audience, including Mr. Erling Lorentzen.

He referred to the strategy as a blueprint, which required the active participation of local business leaders: “I encourage you to communicate your thoughts to Innovation Norway, the Consulate Generals and the Royal Norwegian Embassy. To receive those messages, we are also looking to structure our receptive capacity,” said Støre.

After presentations by NBCC Chairman Johnar Olsen and NBCC Board Member Jon Harald Kilde, the Norwegian Ambassador to Brazil, Turid Rodrigues Eusébio, explained, “the foreign minister presented the strategy to the biggest chamber in Brazil because business is one of the four priority areas in the strategy.”

Minister Solheim, who was with the ambassador and Minister Store in meetings in Brasilia, went to visit a Hydro bauxite plan in the state of Pará instead.

“I would like to emphasize that having two ministers come to present the Norwegian strategy to the Brazilian authorities is a rare exception,” said Ambassador Eusébio.

The minister, on his part, vowed that it wouldn’t be his last visit. “I can promise you that we will come with frequency to Brazil. We will do our best to show that we will practice what we preach.”

Støre also revealed that the Minister of Oil and Energy and his Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon will visit Brazil in May. In addition, the Norwegian government is now strengthening the embassy in Brasilia and its capacity in Rio.

Brazil Strategy in English