On November 15, 2010, a solemn opening of the Days of St.Petersburg in Norway took place in Oslo, with the events to be run in Oslo and Stavanger, the partner cities of St.Petersburg.
On November 15, 2010, a solemn opening of the Days of St.Petersburg in Norway took place in Oslo, with the events to be run in Oslo and Stavanger, the partner cities of St.Petersburg.
St.Petersburg delegation was headed by A.S. Maksimov, Chairman of the Committee for Science and Higher Education. The delegation included representatives of sectoral committees, universities, businesses, museums, and the city mass-media.
As part of the opening, a round table was held on grounds of the leading Norwegian telecommunications company “Telenor”, devoted to the following topics:
-
“Cooperation of Universities of Norway and St.Petersburg in the Areas of Research and Education”, in which A. Maksimov informed the audience about the scientific and educational potential of the city, while the representatives of the leading St.Petersburg universities gave presentations and discussed the opportunities of mutually beneficial cooperation with their Norwegian colleagues.
-
“Urban Planning and Architecture”, in which the participants discussed the general development plans of Oslo and St.Petersburg, the issues of high-rise construction regulations and environmental expertise in both cities, important social and infrastructure projects underway, etc.
-
“Cooperation in Support of Small- and Medium-Scale Enterprises”, in which the participation of Norwegian companies in the implementation of various joint projects was discussed. In particular, discussed was the development of the car-making cluster in St.Petersburg. The Norwegian side expressed its interest in projects in this area, not only in terms of production of automotive components, but the experimental design, personnel training, and exchange of hands-on training courses. Also, during the round table the representatives of the other Norwegian participant of the St.Petersburg market – the company “Orkla” – said that the traditions of Russian production at the Confectionery Factory named after N.K. Krupskaya, currently owned by this company, will be kept. The Norwegian side also expressed its interest in cooperation with St.Petersburg for the implementation of innovative projects.
On completion of the round tables, the members of the delegation held the negotiations at the University of Oslo, as well as with the company Orkla, concerning their areas of industrial activity, and visited the objects of Oslo urban infrastructure – the underwater tunnel and ultramodern Palace of the Norwegian Opera.
The final of the first day of the Days of St.Petersburg in Norway was a reception at the Russian Embassy in Oslo.
On November 16, the members of the delegation visited the Confederation of Norwegian Industrialists, where the issues of the Confederation activity were discussed, both in Norway and abroad, and, in particular, in St.Petersburg.
The members of St.Petersburg delegation met with Mr. Fabian Stang, Mayor of Oslo, and discussed the prospects of development of relations within the framework of an updated Agreement on Cooperation between the cities that was signed in 2007.
The first stage of the Days of St.Petersburg was completed with a concert of St.Petersburg jazz band «Art Nova».
On November 17, an art exhibition in Stavanger Maritime Museum put the beginning of the second stage of the Days of St.Petersburg – in Stavanger.
Also, the members of St.Petersburg delegation learned about the tourist potential of Stavanger.
On November 18, a business breakfast was held with the representatives of Norwegian companies, as well as the round tables: “Cooperation of Universities of St.Petersburg and Stavanger” and “Cooperation in the Area of Cultural Relations”, in which the sides discussed mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation in said areas. Also, the delegation members visited the Chamber of Commerce of Stavanger City.
Source: St.Petersburg Committee for External Relations