The Norwegian Business Association in Singapore presents the seventh edition of the Norway-Asia Business Summit (NABS), taking place 16-18 April in Singapore. The summit will explore how to navigate the geo-political landscape in Asia; discuss how to succeed in the time of digitalisation; provide insights on advanced manufacturing, blockchain technologies, white spaces and unicorns; and offer an excellent arena for networking.
NABS2018 targets business leaders and decision makers. “The summit focuses on the rapidly changing political and economic landscape in Asia; on the possibilities and risks presented by digitalisation across sectors; and on the very dynamic start-up scene in this region,” states Ambassador of Norway to Singapore, Anita Nergaard.
Senior Minister of State, Mr Koh Poh Koon, Ministry of Trade & Industry of Singapore, and Minister Per Sandberg, Ministry of Trade and Fisheries of Norway, will open the summit.
“NABS has established itself as a key meeting place for Norwegian businesses in Asia, and will not only present an excellent opportunity to stay on top of key developments and trends in the region, it will also be a great venue for high-level networking,” says Minister Sandberg.
The summit will also offer a unique opportunity to meet the Norwegian Ambassadors to countries across Asia.
In addition, the Norwegian Ambassador to ASEAN, H. E. Morten Høglund, will be present. Norway became a Sectoral Dialogue Partner to this organisation in 2015, reaffirming Norway’s close ties to the region. This was a significant development in Asean’s external relations as it was the first time in more than two decades that it granted the status to formal partnership to a country outside Asia.
Other prominent speakers include:
H. E. Professor Tommy Koh, Ambassador-at-Large, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Singapore
Mr Andreas Sohmen-Pao, Chairman of BW Group
Ms Elisabeth Tørstad, Chief Executive Officer Digital Solutions, DNV GL
Ms Angeline Poh, Assistant Chief Executive Officer, Infocomm Media Development Authority
Mr Tor Olav Mørseth, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Norway
MsAnh Nuygen, YouTube Subscriptions Marketing Lead in APAC, YouTube
Dr Ayesha Khanna, CEO, ADDO AI
Mr Magnus Grimeland, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Antler Innovation
Mr Tor Olav Mørseth, will discuss digitalisation during the Summit under the headline “Digitalising everything – a matter of survival?”. Mr Mørseth sees the Summit as a chance to learn more about the potential for both trade and knowledge exchanges between Asia and Norway, and encourages companies to move from long-term planning to experimentation.
“I think all companies face some of the same challenges. With rapid change and high uncertainty, the old way of working does not necessarily work any longer. We have to move from long-term planning to experimentation. That is a leap into uncertainty that requires a shift of mindset from both top executives, lower level managers and employees on all levels,” Mr Mørseth told NBAS.
Furthermore, Export Credit Norway and GIEK at the morning coffee break following the opening session of the Summit on Tuesday 17 April.
Export Credit Norway and GIEK provide tailored and competitive financing for both foreign buyers and Norwegian exporters of all kinds of goods and services, including ships and offshore installations. We do this by offering loans and guarantees on behalf of the Norwegian state. The public-sector export financing system is a supplement to commercial financial institutions, and Export Credit Norway and GIEK cooperate with banks and other financial institutions worldwide.
The summit is a joint effort by Team Norway in Asia, i.e., the Norwegian Embassies, Innovation Norway, the Seafood Council and the business associations and chambers in the respective countries.
“We welcome all businesses and news agencies in the Asia region to take part in what promises to be a Business Summit as much about new digital landscapes as about emerging geographical and socioeconomic markets,” states NBAS.
Source: Norwegian Business Association (Singapore) NBAS Singapore
