Norway business travel information

Doing business in Norway

Although small, Norway’s population of 4,7 million people is among the world’s wealthiest. The wealth is quit evenly distributed, so every Norwegian is an much enabled consumer. Several Norwegian industrial sectors are far larger than would be expected of a country of its size.

The Norwegian economy is an example of a mixed economy, featuring a combination of free market activity and large state ownership in certain key sectors. The state has large ownership positions in key industrial sectors, such as the strategic petroleum sector (Statoil), hydroelectric energy production (Statkraft), aluminum production (Norsk Hydro), the largest Norwegian bank (DnB NOR) and telecommunication provider (Telenor). Through these big companies, the government controls approximately 30% of the stock values at the Oslo Stock Exchange. When non-listed companies are included the state has even higher share in ownership (mainly from direct oil license ownership). Norway is a major shipping nation, and has the world’s 6th largest merchant fleet, with 1,412 Norwegian-owned merchant vessels (2009).

The country is richly endowed with natural resources including petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals. Large reserves of petroleum and natural gas were discovered in the 1960s, which led to a continuing boom in the economy. Norway has obtained one of the highest standards of living in the world in part by having a large amount of natural resources compared to the size of the population.

The income from natural resources includes a very important contribution from petroleum production and the substantial and well-managed income related to this sector. Norway also has a very low unemployment rate of about 3%. The hourly productivity levels, as well as average hourly wages in Norway are among the highest in the world. The egalitarian values of the Norwegian society ensure that the wage difference between the lowest paid worker and the CEO of most companies is much less than in comparable western economies.

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In case of emergencies

Before you go on your business trip to , Norway you should always get a travel insurance with a complete coverage.

Make sure your health care insurance is sufficiently covered.
Maybe this is already covered in your regular health care insurance but often you will need to cover this with the travel insurance. Also a good travel insurance should cover the costs of travel for a relative in case of seriously illness or an accident.

The business trip travel insurance should also cover the costs of search, rescue and repatriation.
When you go on business trips on a regular basis, the easiest way to get insured is with an annual multi-trip insurance.

Keep in mind that you can also use this insurance for your pleasure trips so don`t forget to include to insure your leisure activities.

In case of a medical emergency you will find English speaking staff in every Norwegian hospital.

Business Etiquette & Protocol

If your are planning a business trip to Norway it is a good idea to know at least a little about the culture and etiquette in Norway. Use these business etiquette tips as a guideline only. There are too many social, personal and business nuances in Norway to be considered. There is no uniform approach possible for all occasions.
For more in-depth information I suggest you buy and read the "Global Business Etiquettes" book.

• Communication:
  Use formal names, professional and academic titles.
  Norwegians are open, humble and direct. They have no problem with criticism.
  Be very modest and do not display wealth.
  Never interrupt somebody.
  Dress formal and conservative.
  


• Meetings and negotiations:
  When making appointments use the 24-hour clock time format to avoid misunderstandings.
  Be very punctual, if you suspect you will late, call and explain the situation.
  Never cancel a meeting at the last minute.
  Shake hands with everyone upon arriving at the meeting and leaving.
  Remain standing until invited to sit down or others do so.
  The meeting style is informal but to the point.
  Little time is spent to getting to know you before the business conversation begins.
  Agenda’s are strictly followed.
  Keep your presentation as short as possible, to the point, accurate and precise, do not exaggerate.
  Follow up a meeting with a letter with all agreements outlined.
  


• Table manners:
  If unsure on how to behave, mimic the behavior of others.
  Wait until you are appointed a seat.
  Avoid alcohol if possible, otherwise drink little.
  If making a toast, stand up.
  Put a napkin on your lap, eat not too much but finish your plate.
  Keep your hands above the table when eating.
  After finishing your plate lay your knife and fork parallel on your plate with the handles to the right.
  Thank your host at the end of the meal.
  

Some phrases in Norwegian

Norwegian (norsk) is a North Germanic language spoken primarily in Norway, where it is an official language. Together with Swedish and Danish, Norwegian forms a continuum of more or less mutually intelligible local and regional variant. The Norwegian language has been teasingly said to be Danish spoken in Swedish due to the Norwegian and Danish vocabularies being so closely related while the language’s phonology and prosody is more similar to Swedish.

The Norwegians speak quit good English but sometimes a few Norwegian phrases can come in hand...

Good morning!	God morgen!
Good evening!	God kveld!
How are you?	Hvordan har du det?/Hvordan går det?
I’m fine, thanks!	Jeg har det bra takk/Det går bra takk
And you?	Enn med deg?
Thank you (very much)!	Takk (Tusen)!
Good night!	God natt!
Good bye!	Hadet bra!
Can you help me?	Kan du hjelpe meg?
I’m looking for John.	Jeg leter etter John
Where is the...?	Hvor er...?
How much is this?	Hva koster denne?
Do you speak English?	Snakker du engelsk?
My name is ...	Mitt navn er ...
Nice to meet you!	Hyggelig å møte deg
Write It Down Please!	Skriv det ned er du grei.
I Don’t Understand!	Jeg forstår ikke
What’s that called In Norwegian?	Hvordan sier man det på ... norsk?
Yes/ No	Ja / Nei
In The Morning/ Evening/ At Night.	Om morgenen / kvelden / natta