China was this year's Partner Country, and high profile speakers with experience and understanding of Asia's growing dominance of shipping was present. The event that took place this week was the first of a series of three Oslo Shipping Talks that will be held to discuss and evaluate the Oslo and Norwegian maritime cluster and how it will be defined in the future.
Ole Wikborg, Director of Norwegian Hull Club, participated in the panel discussions at the event. "Oslo Shipping Talks is an important arena and we were pleased to be able to participate", says Wikborg.
"Events like this is definately useful and this year's event managed to focus on the future in the Norwegian maritime cluster in an interesting new light", he continues.
"There was an open and candid discussion on everything associated with how the Norwegian Maritime Cluster may improve its already strong global position when faced with the eagerness to learn and ability to implement as currently done emerging countries like China. In particular, how to attract and retain talent and a competitive knowledge base was the focus of many of the contributors from the podium".
More than 80 participants attended the event, that included names like Trond Giske, Minister of Trade & Industry, Sturla Henriksen, Managing Director, Norges Rederiforbund, Egil Holland, Director, Maritime Sector, Federation of Norwegian Industries, Morits Skaugen, Chairman, Oslo Maritime Network and Henrik Madsen, President & CEO, DNV on the list of speakers.