NRCC CCI Workshop in Moscow on 13-14 December 2017

On 13-14 December 2017, a NRCC CCI workshop in Moscow was organised by the Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce (NRCC).

The participants were represented by representatives from CCI of Russia, Administration of the Nenets AO, Arkhangelsk CCI, CCI of the Leningrad Oblast, CCI of the Murmansk Region, Moscow CCI, Novgorod CCI, Pskov CCI, Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) and NRCC. 

Networking meeting in St. Petersburg, 12 December 2017

On December 12, Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce had a pleasure to invite their members and partners in St. Petersburg to the NRCC networking meeting hold at the facilities of Hotel Radisson Royal, NRCC member. Russian and Norwegian member companies and organizations participated in the meeting, as well as officials from both countries. Mr Rune Methi, NRCC Senior Project Manager, welcomed all the participants. The first speaker, Mr Dag Malmer Halvorsen, Consul General, Royal Norwegian Consulate General St. Petersburg, held a presentation about St. Petersburg as a place where Norwegian and Russian interests meet. 

Mr Dag Malmer Halvorsen, Consul General, Royal Norwegian Consulate General, St. Petersburg 

Christmas Russia Breakfast with Mr Iver B. Neumann and Mrs Kristin Høiby - 6 December 2017

On December 6, Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce (NRCC) and Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise (NHO) had a pleasure to invite their members to Christmas Russia breakfast with Mr Iver B. Neumann, Research Professor at NUPI, and Mrs Kristin Høiby, Senior Adviser at the Norwegian Research Council and Program Coordinator for the NORRUSS programme since 2014.  The meeting took place at the NHO facilities.

Mr Jarle Forbord, NRCC Managing Director, welcomed all the participants and introduced the following speakers to the audience. 

Mr Iver B. Neumann, Research Professor at NUPI, gave a presentation about new developments in Russia. 

Mr Iver B. Neumann, Research Professor at NUPI

Russia Macro Monthly Report - Russian Agriculture, November 2017: Can Russia Feed the World?

Please find Russia Macro report - Russian Agriculture, November 2017, prepared by Chris Weafer, Senior Partner at Macro-Advisory Ltd from Moscow. 

Short summary of the report: 

Economy grows. The Russian economy is now growing again. The Economy Ministry expects GDP growth in excess of 2% this year as Russia pulls out of a three-year recession.
Agriculture bucks recession trend. Agriculture was the only major sector showing growth in the recession of 2014-17, with output growing 3.5% in 2015 and 4.8% in 2016, according to official figures. Growth in the sector of 4.5% is expected in 2017.
Key government policies – a perfect storm. Localization, counter-sanctions, ruble free-float, food security, subsidies and an ‘added-value in Russia’ approach are all helping food production to hit record levels in several sectors.
All according to plan. A strategic agricultural development plan was adopted in 2012 and is having a noticeable effect, with many targets reached ahead of schedule. Food self-sufficiency is a key element of national security.
Record production in many sectors. Grain production hit a new record in 2017, with harvest figures now revised upwards to nearly 130 million tonnes. Some sectors, such as poultry, now suffer from over-production.
And this helps inflation. Food items form over 40% of the CPI ‘basket’ in Russia. Greater production and competition is sharply reducing food price inflation, which impacts the CPI.
Food imports slump ... Russia was one of the world’s biggest food importers – over US$40 billion annually, which was over 30% of total consumption. But, in 2016, with a weaker ruble and counter-sanctions, food imports fell to around US$25 billlion.
… while exports rise. Agricultural exports were up 17% YoY in the first six months of 2017.
From guns to butter. Russia now earns more money from the export of food products than from military equipment. Latest estimates suggest US$20 billion of food exports in 2017.
Investment opportunities widening. Considerable areas of food production have been modernized in recent years, using Western equipment. Competition in some food sectors is now reducing profits and well-equipped producers can be bought more cheaply.
Politics no barrier to investment. The Russian government makes a sharp distinction between politics and economics and has repeatedly stressed that foreign investment is welcome in Russia.

Download here the full report in PDF format.

Maritime Workshop in Kaliningrad on 20-22 November 2017

On 20- 22 November 2017, a maritime workshop in Kaliningrad was organised by the Norwegian-Russian Chamber of Commerce and Innovation Norway.

The delegation was represented by H.E. Ambassador of the Kingdom of Norway to the Russian Federation Leidulv Namtvedt, Consul General Dag Malmer Halvorsen, Brunvoll Volda AS, Rolls-Royce Marine AS, Teknotherm Marine AS and Mørenot.

Regarding the program, delegation carried out visits and guided tours at Yantar Shipyard and Pregol Shipprepair Yard. During both visits, norwegian companies gave corporate presentations regarding their main activities. 

In addition to a guided tour at Yantar Shipyard, delegation visited a slipway for seeing a construction of trawlers for Lenin Kolkhoz and a shipyard museum.

An evening continued with a reception for the invited guests at the Hotel "Kaiserhof". 

Press release from the NRCC management in connection with signing of a new Program Agreement (PA) between the NRCC and Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

(press release is available in Norwegian only)

Download here the full press release in PDF format.