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Economy - overview:
The Norwegian economy is a prosperous bastion of welfare capitalism, featuring a combination of free market activity and government intervention. The government controls key areas, such as the vital petroleum sector (through large-scale state enterprises). The country is richly endowed with natural resources - petroleum, hydropower, fish, forests, and minerals - and is highly dependent on its oil production and international oil prices, with oil and gas accounting for one-third of exports. Only Saudi Arabia and Russia export more oil than Norway. Norway opted to stay out of the EU during a referendum in November 1994; nonetheless, it contributes sizably to the EU budget. The government has moved ahead with privatization. Norwegians worry about that time in the next two decades when the oil and gas will begin to run out; accordingly, Norway has been saving its oil-boosted budget surpluses in a Government Petroleum Fund, which is invested abroad and now is valued at more than $150 billion. After lackluster growth of 1% in 2002 and 0.5% in 2003, GDP growth picked up to 3.3% in 2004 and to 3.8% in 2005. |
Trade Fairs,
Exhibitions, Conferences: |
Gift & Interior
Gift & Interior is a closed trade fair and the premier marketplace for Norwegian buyers of decorative and utility products for the home, handicrafts, souvenirs, paper, flower-related articles, textiles, domestic fabrics and accessories. Staged twice a year – spring show in January, autumn show in August. Held for the first time in 1982.
Organiser: Norway Trade Fairs
Norway Trade Fairs - Norges Varemesse
Norway Trade Fairs has hosted Norway’s most successful exhibitions for almost nine decades, including 40 years at the Sjølyst centre in western Oslo. For the first half-century of its life, the foundation played a major role in developing and presenting Norwegian industry both at home and abroad. Since then, it has achieved a strong position as a very important, effective and forward-looking marketing channel.
Structural change in trade patterns – the formation of chains, mergers and the expansion of markets beyond national boundaries – have had their impact on the exhibition business. The first ”national” exhibitions were a combination of trade fair and general event. These have been replaced in part by more specialised shows, while a number of exhibitions are also merging to create effective meeting places.
Some of the biggest shows organised today at the new Norway Trade Fairs centre in Lillestrøm include the Autofil motor show, the Bygg Reis Deg building event, the Sjøen for Alle boat show, the Reiseliv travel trade exhibition, Nor-Shipping, Gift & Interiors and the Jobb & Utdanning careers and education show.
The new exhibition facility at Lillestrøm just outside Oslo gives the foundation even better opportunities to serve as Norway’s premier place. |
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