In 2002, Norway exported services for approximately NOK 160 billion (approx. EUR 20 billion) accounting for slightly less than one quarter of total exports.
The utilization of Norway’s abundant natural resources presents enormous challenges. A harsh climate, long winters, a rugged terrain and the world’s roughest seas all must be overcome. Along the way, Norwegian enterprises have not only harvested wealth but also generated a substantial treasure of technical and engineering know-how. Modern Norwegian consulting companies have emerged as a direct or indirect spin-off from many of the country’s traditional industrial strongholds, including a wide range of marine technologies, hydropower, rock engineering, aquaculture, fisheries, forest industries, and the oil and gas industry.
A modern industrial sector is dependent on an effective transport sector. Norwegian transport services include shipping companies, shipping and forwarding agents, air freight carriers and third party logistics.
In addition to technologically oriented consulting activities, Norwegian firms increasingly supply a variety of other services in as diverse fields as finance and insurance, legal and auditing services, marketing and public relations and management consulting. Moreover, a wide range of private consulting firms, as well as public and semi-private R&D institutions with close links to universities, regional colleges or other centres of research and learning, provide consultancy services worldwide.
By the Norwegian Trade Council