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Dedicated to the Service of the
Norwegian-American Business Community
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ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE AND MEMBERSHIP |
Headquartered
in New York, NACC has seven active chapters in the
United States: Chicago, Los Angeles, Houston, Miami,
Minneapolis, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. The chamber
also maintains a close association |
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with the American Chamber
of Commerce in Norway, AmCham (the result of a 1999
merger of NACC Norway and the American Chamber of
Commerce Norway), and the Norwegian-British Chamber
in London. |
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History - The Early Years |
The
Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce was founded
in New York in 1915, “to
promote trade and goodwill and to foster business,
financial and professional interests between Norway
and the United States of America, to advance the common
purposes of its members, and to facilitate contact
among its members.” These
objectives and the spirit behind them are so fundamentally
important as to be unchanged despite the passing of
two world wars and periods of economic, financial
and political upheaval that affected trade between
the two countries.
NACC has been
hard at work for over 90 years, with only two intermissions:
during the “great recession,” and during
World War II. |
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NACC has substantially
influenced the development of trade between Norway and
the United States and has taken an active role in expanding
the scope of Norwegian business activities in the United
States.
With the establishment of the Norwegian Export Council
in 1945, close cooperation was initiated between the
two organizations. The chamber continues to work closely
with Norwegian Trade Council, now incorporated into
Innovation Norway, in areas of common interest such
as trade promotions and expansion of trade relations. |
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Milestones |
Over
the years, members of the Norwegian Royal Family have
recognized the NACC’s efforts in expanding US-Norway
relations by their presence and participation in important
chamber events. The chamber’s 50th anniversary,
in 1965, was cause for celebration in both the USA and
Norway.
In New York, [then] H.R.H. Crown Prince Harald was guest
of honor and main speaker at a banquet at The Waldorf-Astoria.
In Oslo two weeks later, H.M. King Olav V was guest
of honor and principal speaker at the main celebration
taking place at the Bristol Hotel. |
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In 1990 when
NACC marked its 75th anniversary, US members joined
our Norwegian colleagues in Oslo at a grand dinner dance
at the SAS Scandinavia Hotel in the presence of [then]
H.R.H. Crown Prince Harald and Crown Princess Sonja.
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H.M. King Olav V addresses NACC members at Bristol Hotel , Oslo |
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H.R.H. Crown
Princess Sonja with Norway's Ambassador to the U.S. Kjeld Vibe |
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Activities over the years |
In
October 1996 NACC in New York, Chicago and Seattle co-sponsored
events including seminars, conferences and galas in
connection with the first visit to the United States
of Their Majesties King Harald V and Queen Sonja. |
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In June 1999
NACC hosted H.R.H. Crown Prince Haakon on his first
official visit to New York with a gala dinner at The
Plaza. Similar activities were sponsored by several
chapters in conjunction with the Crown Prince’s
trip across the United States following his graduation
from University of California at Berkeley. |
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Crown Prince
in with Chapter President in Seattle |
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H.R.H.
Crown Prince Haakon with gala chairman Lise Stolt-Nielsen
at celebration of his first
official visit to New York |
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Environment
Conference |
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NACC oil fund seminar
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Norway and a number
of Norwegian organizations have played leading roles
in placing environmental issues on the global political
agenda. In 1995, in the presence of HM King Harald V,
NACC arranged a seminar for top level representatives
of American Industry and academia. Moderated by ‘Adam
Smith’ (Adam Smith’s Moneyworld), the seminar
set forth many of the corporate philosophies and technical
processes that meet Norway’s high aspirations
in this area.
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Corporate responsibility
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Similarly,
NACC arranged a briefing by Norges Bank (The Central
Bank of Norway) at New York’s World Trade Center
to disseminate information about the Government’s
decision to place a portion of its petroleum fund
in international markets, and the manner in which
the central bank would administer such investments.
Chamber events frequently feature prominent speakers, often leaders of Norwegian government and industry. Seminars are held regularly on topics of specific interest. As an example, the annual conference for the maritime industries -- co-sponsored with the Hellenic-American Chamber -- is a leading forum for Norwegian, Greek and American shipowners and shipping finance executives.
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Svein Ludvigsen, Minister of Fisheries, addresses NACC Midwest Chapter-Chicago |
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NACC President Oivind Lorentzen III
and
Minister of Oil and Energy Marit Arnstad
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HM King Harald V at pre-conference
breakfast with Oivind Lorentzen III,
NACC President Olav Rakkenes |
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Above: Per Heidenreich presents Achievement Award to Grete Waitz.
Right: Dinner celebrating presentation of the Norwegian American Trade Award to Det Norske Veritas
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Gala events
are arranged around the presentation of special awards,
such as the Norwegian American Trade Award and the NACC
Achievement Award.
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Social / Business Networking Events |
Photos depict
typical networking events
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A Briefing by H.E. Borg Brende was
hosted by
JP Morgan at its
New York corporate facility.
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The Chicago Chapter is pictured on one of
their annual Thanksgiving trips to Norway
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NACC annual meeting held in Trondheim
and
Oslo with theme Hi-Tech Norway
Annual Meeting of Members and
Chapter Presidents,
held in Ottawa
in conjunction with the annual
meeting of Team Norway
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A special NACC award was presented by
Oivind Lorentzen III and Inger M. Tallaksen
to Marilyn Whitted, Greater Seattle Chapter,
for her dedicated service to the Chamber.
Dagfinn Gunnarshaug, Los Angeles chapter
president, one of the leaders of the 17th of May
parade
at California's Nansen Field
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Special Events for Young Associates |
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The
Young Associates of the Chamber is a group of young
people employed mainly by Norwegian corporations or
by American companies doing business with Norway. They
are invited to participate fully in all chamber events;
in addition, events are arranged specially for the young
associates. The group also arranges their own program
of social/networking events. The president of the young
associates group has a seat on the NACC board. There
are young associates / student groups in most NACC regions.
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Young Associates
briefings, hosted by corporate members, provide young members with an insight into corporate member firms, and offer interaction with executives of those firms. |
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