Society & Policy

On the contrary of what most people might think, the key to Norway’s prosperity is not to be found in the country’s oil revenues, but rather in the high level of working women. This was the conclusion reached by journalists from the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune who recently visited Norway.

On the occasion of the opening of a hospital specialized in the installation of artificial limbs in Slovenia, Norway’s King Harald V and Queen Sonja visited the hospital accompanied by the Slovenian President.

Secretary of State Pål Lønseth from the Ministry of Justice visited Erbil in the Kurdish-controlled areas in Iraq from 26th - 29th March. The accompanying delegation consisted of representatives from the Norwegian Embassy in Amman, the Ministry of Justice, the Directorate of Immigration and the Ministry of Children, Equality and Social Inclusion.

The Norwegian Ambassador visited Baghdad 6-10th of February as part of his regular visiting plan for the side accredited country. Congratulating on the new government formation was high on the agenda, as well as the bilateral relationship between Iraq and Norway.

The Standing Committee on Local Government and Public Administration from the Norwegian Parliament visited Amman in the period February 26th-28th. In addition to Jordan, the committee will also visit Syria and Lebanon.

Jordan and EFTA member states opened meetings in Amman to discuss ways of further boosting trade and economic relations between the Kingdom and the EFTA members Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Lichtenstein.

Industri Energi, a Norwegian federation of trade unions, annually presents an international award to a person or organisation that has been instrumental in promoting union rights and strengthening trade union organisation. Representatives and employees of trade unions worldwide are invited to propose candidates.

The world’s largest wind turbine is to be built in Norway. Innovative technology will make the production of renewable energy far more efficient.

The equal status of women in society has been an important part of public policy in Norway for several years. A central initiative in this context was the Parliament's passing of a law in 2003, requiring that 40 percent of all company board members be women.

During a ceremony in Oslo on 10 December, President Barack Obama received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize for his extraordinary efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between peoples.