At the end of October, specialists of the Kurzeme Planning Region (KPR) within the framework of the project no. LV-LOCALDEV-0004 “Entrepreneurship Support Measures in Kurzeme”, went on an experience exchange visit to Rogaland county in Norway. Thanks to the funding provided by the EEA grant program “Local Development, Poverty Reducion and Cultural Development” for the implementation of activities of the Bilateral Cooperation Fund, representatives of all municipalities of the Kurzeme region had the opportunity to participate in the trip.
On the first day of the visit, the project partner – Vardafjella High School was visited. The school offers the opportunity to study in various programs – economics and business, media and communication, international baccalaureate and general studies. The student training company, which produces organic seasoning salt, will visit Latvia at the beginning of November.
We visited the company Aibel, which is a leading service company in the oil, gas and offshore wind industry. Aibel builds and maintains platforms and other infrastructure important to the energy industry. The company is a leader in the European offshore wind industry and the electrification of offshore oil and gas facilities and onshore processing plants. Aibel is one of the largest suppliers on the Norwegian continental shelf and a supplier of a full range of innovative and sustainable solutions. The company has more than 4,300 employees in offices in Norway, Thailand and Singapore. In addition, Aibel owns two modern yards in Haugesund, Norway and Laem Chabang, Thailand, with significant industrial production and construction capacity. A unique opportunity to climb onto the Dogger Bank converter platform was also provided.
We visited one of the oldest lighthouses in Norway – the Høyevarde lighthouse, which was built in 1700 and was a very important lighthouse in this region. Currently, in order to keep the buildings in good condition, these buildings are used for tourism purposes.
We aldo had opportunity to meet the mayor of Haugesund County, who told us about the region’s history, current challenges and future prospects. We discussed common and different things in our municipalities and state administrations.
At the Røvær Aquaculture Center, we visited an exhibition about Norway as a seafood country and learned about the challenges they faced to become a world leader in the production of industrially farmed salmon. It was also possible to visit the salmon farm set up in the sea.
We also visited Raw Ocean Lodge, which is a leisure and other event venue created by a company of friends and currently uses local products from the Karmøy area both in the kitchen and elsewhere, respecting the basic principles of sustainability as much as possible.
At the end of the trip, we visited Gründerloftet – an office community for entrepreneurs, start-ups, freelancers and companies that want to think outside the box. Their goal is to bring exciting people together and create a contactpoint for innovation and creativity in the region. Gründerloftet is known for its warm atmosphere and inspiring surroundings. It is a place where entrepreneurs can meet each other, a place where ideas become reality. Other organizations also attended the meeting to introduce us to the support available to existing and future entrepreneurs in Norway.
The visit was organized to learn Norwegian experience and good practice in business promotion and support issues, and we were completely successful in this. Every participant of the trip returned home full of excitement and reflection.
More information:
Viktorija Reine
Kurzeme Planning Region project coordinator
email: viktorija.reine@kurzemesregions.lv
