NBAS Newsflash!

Dear Members and Friends of NBAS,

We`d like to improve our communication with you, and our thoughts are that a regular newsflash could be a useful way to interact. Our goal is first and foremost for the information we provide to be valuable, welcome and relevant to you. For this to happen, we need your help. Give us feedback! How can we in NBAS contribute better? We`re only a phone call away.

NBAS has been around a long time already! Since 1993 in fact. We hope our members and friends see us as an important forum for the Norwegian business community here. NBAS maintains liaison and cooperates with the Government agencies (in Singapore and Norway) and acts as a unified voice of the Norwegian Community. We have a close relationship with the Norwegian Seamen's Church, and we share offices and work closely with the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Innovation Norway and Norwegian Seafood Council. Each of us having different tasks on a daily basis, but all of us having the same goal overall; to enhance Norwegian interests!

Every year we arrange different events to create different platforms for our members to stimulate their businesses, to facilitate discussion and knowledge sharing. NBAS members are encouraged to make more and better use of these exposure and networking platforms.

There are many ways to expand one`s network, and in today`s Facebook -LinkedIn -and- Twitter-society; this is not even hard work anymore. But nothing beats a good old fashion conversation! Meet and greet. Make new contacts. Make new friends. Make more business. That`s what we are all about.

IN RETROSPECTIVE

8 March 2013

The NBAS Award is given in recognition of significant contribution to bilateral business relations between Norway and Singapore. This year the Chief Executive Officer of Thome Group, Mr Olav Eek Thorstensen, received the Award. The Award ceremony is held conjointly with the popular Norwegian Seafood Dinner – an annual event that showcases delicious seafood from the cold, clear waters of Norway. Here, 1000 guests had the opportunity to indulge in the finest Norwegian seafood, presented in Asian, Fusion and classical Norwegian style alike.

19 March 2013

NBAS Annual General Meeting took place. The Annual Report, Statement of Accounts and proposed new Committee Candidates were all approved. The new members of the NBAS Board are as follows:

·  Erlend Engelstad, Nena Asia

·  Kristin Schjødt-Bitnes, Simonsen Vogt Wiig

·  Theodor Berg, Stolt Bitumen Services

·  Tor Erik S. Andersen, Western Bulk

The complete Board is presented on our webpage: www.nbas.org.sg

Mr Prashun Dutt, an Asia-Pacific Regional Media Director, held an interesting geopolitical speech. The topic of this Luncheon Talk was «How and why Singapore has become a major global business centre».

15 April 2013

Luncheon Talk with Dr Madsen, CEO of DNV Group. More than 5o participants joined; the topic was «DNV and GL – an amazing merger proposition”.

26-27 April 2013

Norway - Asia Business Summit was held in Jakarta with 100 participants. The event has been arranged three times now and every event has turned out to be very successful, adding value to companies and leaders through prestigious speakers and valuable networking.

This year`s main topics were as follows;

• Changing Asia, Protectionism, New Opportunities & Changing Trade Patterns
• Are Norwegian companies competitive in Asia? Benchmarking Successful Strategies
• Responsible Business Practices: Growing Sustainably
• Norway Inc.: Where is Brand Norway Today? What is "Brand Norway” & how do we Brand Norway? What is our strategy for tomorrow?

ScandBizBar every first Thursday in each month Feb, March, April and May and so on...

ScandBizBar (SBB) is a social event that is arranged by the Nordic Chambers in Singapore. The responsibility of hosting the concept rotates every year. This year NBAS is in charge. We chose to have the SBB at The Cufflink Club, and we`re very happy to see that so many of you turn up and support the event.

17 May 2013

In Singapore there were three main events open to the Norwegian community. First breakfast at the Norwegian Seamen's Mission, then secondly a reception at Ambassador Tormod C. Endresen's residence. In the afternoon, almost 800 young and adult gathered in Fort Canning Park.

UPCOMING EVENTS

NBAS has an Event Group that continuously plans ahead. Some events recur year after year, like the annual Norwegian Seafood Dinner, the annual Boat trip and the Peer Gynt Golf Tournament. The Seafood Dinner has already been conducted, but rejoice everyone - our annual Boat Trip and Golf Tournament, still remains! In addition, we aim to have up to 6 Luncheon Talks over a year. Feel free to make suggestions on topics that may be of interest!

Our next Luncheon Talk will take place at the Goodwood Park Hotel on 17 June, where we are fortunate to have two speakers; H.E. Ms Katja C. Nordgaard, Ambassador to Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, and Mr Axel Blom, Innovation Norway’s Country Representative for Thailand and Myanmar. The topic is "Myanmar on the rise – current developments and future scenarios". We look forward to a very interesting talk!

6 June 2013

Last ScandBizBar event before the summer! Aalto Executive Education Academy sponsors the 20 first charcuterie boards - the boards are delicious! Arrive between 5pm and 7.30pm and you can also enjoy a 1-4-1 on house pour spirits. The lucky draw for May and June will be conducted this night!

SAVE THESE DATES:

·  5 September 2013: The first ScandBizBar after the summer!

·  13 September 2013: The annual Boat Trip!

More news to follow in after the summer holidays!