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Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce

The Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) is the an important organisation for the Norwegian-British business community in the UK. NBCC is an independent non-profit organisation with a membership consisting of more than 100 Norwegian and British companies, as well as a large number of personal members. NBCC was founded in 1906 and welcomes companies and individuals from Norway, the UK and other countries, who wish to be part of the business community. Since its creation more than 100 years ago, NBCC has played a significant role in strengthening trade relations between the two countries.

NBCC's mission is to promote trade and investment between Norway and the UK, and to provide a professional and social arena for business people. NBCC provides business and networking opportunities and encourages dialogue and exchange of experience between members. NBCC works closely with government bodies and other trade organisations, including the Norwegian Embassy, Innovation Norway and other bilateral Chambers of Commerce.

The Chambers services have three main functions • To create a forum for professional and social networking for NBCC members. • To act as a channel between members and the Norwegian and British authorities on particular topics of special interest to the members. • To participate in the debate regarding trade and policy issues, which are of concern to NBCC members both in Britain and Norway.

NBCC History

The Chamber of Commerce is founded

After the dissolution of the union between Norway and Sweden in 1905, Norwegians felt a need to unite. A lack of organised associations at home and abroad had undermined opportunities for Norwegian citizens in foreign trade at several periods since the Middle Ages. Norwegian business people outside the country felt the need to create collaborative organisations which could support them in their work. Two months after Haakon VII ascended the throne of Norway in November 1905, Norwegian businessmen eagerly and enthusiastically proposed the creation of a Norwegian Chamber of Commerce in the UK capital. It took only a few months to turn the idea into a reality. These practical men had no taste for long reports and analysis. The prime mover in this work was Johan Jørgensen. He and his partner, William Johnson, were among the few Norwegians engaged in trade in London. Most of the rest represented Norwegian shipping interests. Jørgensen, who was Norway’s consulgeneral, invited fellow Norwegians to form a Chamber of Commerce in January 2006, and the founding meeting was held in London the following April, where 21 Norwegians attended, and Thode Fagelund was named the first ever president of the NBCC.

NBCC through time

1906: The Norwegian British Chamber of Commerce in London is founded.

     UK-Norway Trade: Norwegian exports NOK 95 million, Norwegian imports NOK 95 million.

1910: Agreement on commercial arbitration between Norway and the UK. 1913: The NBCC secures its first office under its own roof in Kingsway. 1914-18: First World War. 889 ships and 1156 seafarers from Norway are victims of German submarines and mines. 1915: The NBCC begins publishing its monthly Anglo-Norwegian Trade Journal (appears regularly until 1988 apart from a brief period during the Second World War). 1920: First sign of interwar economic depressions. Protectionism and recession characterise the period until 1935. 1921: Norway House in Cockspur Street off Trafalgar Square is officially opened. The NBCC and other Norwegian institutions in London secure offices in the building. 1931: The NBCC celebrate its 25th anniversary in the presence of its Royal Patron, King Haakon VII 1939-45: Second World War. The Norwegian king and government transfer to London after the German occupation of April 1940. The NBCC plays an important part in the creation of Nortraship, which operates 1200 merchant ships in 1940-45. 1947: Marshall Aid for crisis-hit Europe. 1956: NBCC celebrates its 50th anniversary at the Mansion House in presence of Crown Prince Olav. 1960: Creation of the European Free Trade Area (Efta). Tariff reductions begin in the free trade area. 1963: French president Charles De Gaulle torpedoes Norwegian and British membership of the common market. 1966: Efta tariff reductions completed. 1969: The first commercial oil discovery on the Norwegian continental shelf. 1974: Norway and Britain choose different paths when the UK joins the European

     Community.

1981: The NBCC celebrates its 75th anniversary at Fishmongers Hall in the presence of its Royal Patron, King Olav V. 1990: The organisation changes its name to The Norwegian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC). 1994: Norway again rejects membership of the European Union. 1997: Norway House is sold. The NBCC moves to the Norwegian Trade Centre in Lower Regent Street. 2005: UK-Norway trade (in NOK million):

     Norwegian imports 24 069. Norwegian exports 169,500, with oil and gas accounting for 141,678.	

2006: The NBCC celebrate its 100th anniversary at The Merchant Taylors’ Hall with the presence of its Royal patron, King Harald V 2014: The NBCC is 108 years old, and will be re-locating in the coming months.

This article is written by the secretariat at NBCC, based on our websites, history and information available to us at the office