China Heads Northern Industry Conference

Chinese Chen Xi, Senior Advisor in Elkem, is one out of several international industry leaders who will attend the ‘Industri 2017’ conference.

China’s industrial visions and its role in the global economy are two of the themes when the annual industrial conference takes place in Bodø, Norway on Wednesday and Thursday next week.

Norway’s Foreign Minister Børge Brende will open the conference, and a representative from the Chinese Embassy to Norway will also be present to speak about China as an investment partner.

- The industry conference will present a unique opportunity to gather more knowledge about China’s strategy when it comes to trade deals and industrial development, the organizers lure.

Jo Eirik Frøise of Norsk Industri (‘Norwegian Industry’) business union is Project Manager for the conference, and he is most pleased that Senior Advisor Chen Xi of Elkem is coming to share his observations about the economic development of his home country.

Xi will also speak about what strategy he holds for his own company, Oriental Vikings Investment, which has its headquarter in China.

110 years of innovation

When Elkem’s history in Norway started back in 1904, the goal was to create new Norwegian business based on Norwegian natural resources.

13 years later, Elkem patented the so-called ‘söderberg electrode’, which is still being used in some 75 percent of the world’s smelters. A lot has happened since then. Today, Elkem is under Chinese ownership following China National Bluestar purchasing the company from Norwegian Orkla in 2011.

Since then, Elkem has purchased among others Fesil Rana Metall AS.

- The Chinese owners have provided new opportunities for Elkem. It will be interesting to continue watching this development, Frøise of Norsk Industri says.

Brexit and Trump

The international aspects of Norwegian industry are heavily emphasized in this year’s conference program.

The organizers have among others called on Michael Moore, Vice President of FearnOil Inc., to speak about trade, industrial and energy trends in the USA. The questions about how Norwegian industry is affected by Brexit, as well as the EU’s international trade, will also be key themes.

- Norway, and also Nordland county, have a very open economy, which is largely influenced by the world economy and international politics. It is thus very positive that this year’s industry conference emphasizes this, says Nordland County Executive of Economic Development Ingelin Noresjø (Christian Democratic Party).

Canadian power, Boeing and Hydro

On the second day of the conference, emphasis will be on what Norwegian industry may learn of industries in other parts of the world. Attendants will hear Jean Simard, President of the Aluminium Association of Canada, who will tell of the Canadian power industry’s green initiatives.

Among others expected at the conference one finds Jon Nicolaisen (Vice National Bank Manager of the Bank of Norway), Karin Dahlman (Global Marketing Director of Alcoa), Phil Schneider (Director of International Strategic Partnerships at Boeing Defense, Space & Security), Hans Vatne (Director of Technology at Norsk Hydro ASA) and Morten Fon (Managing Director and President of Jotun).

The conference organizers include Nordland Business Federation, Nordland County Council, Norsk Industry (‘Norwegian Industry’), Mo Industry Park and Nord University.

Elkem AS is among the world’s largest producers of ferrosilicon for steel and cast iron production, carbon products, silicon and industrial silicon. The company has 24 production sites world wide and more than 6,200 employees (2017). Elkem also owns two quartz ores in Norway and four in Spain (joint ventures). The main office is in Oslo, Norway.

In 2016, Elkem’s turnover was NOK 14.2 billion.

The company was owned by Norwegian Orkla ASA until January 2011, when the company was sold to the Chinese company Bluestar.

(Source: Wikipedia)