Norway will be represented by a large delegation of officials and business leaders at the 2013 BioMarine Business Convention in Halifax, Nova Scotia from 9-12 September. The convention is organized in collaboration with the National Research Council of Canada (NRC). Norway is heavily investing in its entire Blue Economy, which includes:
- Oil and Gas
- Seafood (fisheries and aquaculture)
- Bio-technology and bio-prospecting
- Maritime services (oil/gas, pipelines, cables)
- Energy (wind/wave/hydro)
According to the European Commission, Norway belongs to the leading group of the richest countries in the world measured by per capita. Norwegian public finances are boosted by significant revenues from the petroleum sector. Traditional economic activities are shipping (fourth largest fleet in the world), fisheries and fish farming.
The value of Norwegian seafood exports in the first six months of 2013 was at an all-time high, for a total of NOK 26.9 billion ($4.3 billion), an increase of 7.2 per cent compared to the same period last year.
In June, the value of seafood exports was up six per cent compared to the same month last year. This increase in the first half of 2013 is due primarily to record exports of Norwegian salmon and Fjord Trout. The results also show an increase in the value of exports from aquaculture, according to Terje E. Martinussen, CEO of the Norwegian Seafood Council.
Arne Benjaminsen, Acting Secretary General of the Ministry of Fisheries and Coastal Affairs of Norway, and Member of the Advisory Board of BioMarine, will participate in the business discussions in Halifax.
Mona Elisabeth Brøther, Norway's Ambassador to Canada, states: "I really appreciate being invited to participate in BioMarine during my official visit to Nova Scotia. As the Norwegian Ambassador to Canada, it is a privilege to meet the business and scientific communities within fields of common interest. Our two countries share a strategy for cooperation within higher education and science that will hugely rely on public-private partnerships. Having worked as a diplomat for many years on the promotion of excellent Norwegian science, specifically with aquaculture, this conference is a great opportunity to explore future fields of common interest, and make new connections.
BioMarine is a good meeting place to see and discuss the development within the biomarine and
marine biotechnology sector, with respect to resources, (industrial) processes, products and markets, world-wide.
"The Norwegian Industrial Biotechnology Network aims at developing a strong biotechnology sector in Norway based on sustainable marine and other renewable resources from forestry and agriculture. The network supports this program and the Norwegian government's strategy to strengthen the development of the country's bio-economy. International cooperation and exchange of knowledge and experience are crucial in the national development of this industry.
"We hope that BioMarine 2013 will contribute to a better understanding of trends and opportunities with regard to developing profitable industry and markets based on sustainable resources (waste streams) and will facilitate cooperation between organizations in order to speed up the development of sustainable and profitable industries and markets, said Ernst Kloosterman, CEO of Industrial Biotechnology Network Norway, on his partcipation at BioMarine in Halifax.
Aqua Bio Technology ASA (ABT) is a Norwegian biotechnology company that develops and markets ingredients for the cosmetics/personal care industry. ABT's proprietary and patented technology is based on proteins that exist naturally in the hatching fluid of salmon. Long-term and extensive development has documented that these proteins have a number of positive effects on skin, and thus represent unique active ingredients in skincare products, etc. Skin care products from an increasing number of cosmetics manufacturers now contain ingredients from ABT.
"Our ingredients are sustainable and natural, since they come from a renewable source and originate from pure seawater. The cosmetics industry, which has traditionally been forced to use oil-based ingredients, has therefore shown great interest. ABT joins BioMarine in order to explain what our products/technology is about and develop partnerships with companies that have new marine and natural ingredients with the prime goal of bringing new cosmetic ingredients to the market, according to Arvid Lindberg, CEO, Aqua Bio Technology ASA.
Norway joins official delegations from Canada, the USA, Portugal, Ireland, France and Monaco at the 2013 BioMarine Business Convention in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Some 350 CEOs and senior executives from North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and South America will meet with scientists, academics and government representatives for four-days of intensive business networking.
