The Norwegian government sets ambitious export targets in its political platform

The state’s tools for assisting Norwegian export companies will be strengthened.

Increasing Norwegian exports

Shortly before taking power on 14 October 2021, the Norwegian government comprising The Labour and Center Parties launched ambitious plans for Norwegian exports in its political platform, the so called “Hurdal Platform”. In this document the government sets a goal of increasing Norwegian exports excluding oil and gas by 50 per cent by 2030.

Eksfin’s mission is to boost Norwegian exports by offering competitive loans and guarantees to overseas buyers, their Norwegian suppliers and banks. Eksfin is working closely together with the Ministry of Trade and Industry and other government agencies to strengthen Norway’s financing schemes for the export sector and thus help achieve the export target in the Hurdal Platform.

In the Hurdal Platform the government endeavors to: 

• Secure jobs in export industries by ensuring that companies gain access to their most important markets through international agreements and clear rules for trade through the WTO.
• Ensure that Norway engages actively and early in political processes in the EU that are important for Norwegian interests and the development of Norwegian business and industry.
• Increase Norwegian exports excluding oil and gas by at least 50 per cent by 2030, and set up a committee to specify measures and instruments to achieve this goal. The committee’s work will be followed by an ambitious export strategy, industry agreements and the strengthening of schemes that will promote Norwegian exports.
• Make the work of promoting Norwegian exports a core task in relevant parts of the administration.
• Give Export Finance Norway (Eksfin) a broader mandate and financing solutions that are on a par with Norway’s trading partners, including the opportunity to finance domestic climate projects in industries with significant export potential. The government will ensure good cooperation with local financial institutions, as well as strengthen the Export Finance Norway’s local presence.
• Enter into new trade agreements that can facilitate increased exports, new jobs, access to new markets and lower emissions globally, while securing Norwegian interests, including Norwegian agricultural interests. 
• Work to ensure that multinational trade agreements incorporate fundamental standards and rights based on the ILO’s core conventions, which can also be incorporated into global trade agreements under the auspices of the WTO.