High North News dives into US election

High North News is taking a step in a new direction, heading to New York and Washington to participate in exclusive meetings with US policy makers and business and industry ahead of the US election. HNN has also invited Norwegian partners interested in developing their knowledge about US politics and economics.

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High North News, at the High North Centre for Business and Governance at Nord University, is hosting the trip, which aims to immerse participants in US politics and economics and is  entitled “Tvers over havet” (across the ocean).

The group departs in the last week of September. HNN’s Norwegian partners will accompany Editor in Chief Arne O. Holm and HNN US correspondent Berit Enge in meetings with American experts on security policy, industry development, economics and election strategy.

The visit will occur just a few weeks prior to the US presidential election, an election that has significance for US policy in the North. The group will meet central campaign staff on both the democratic and republican sides.

Significance for Norwegian business and industry

The result of the US election has, more than ever before, great significance for Norwegian business and industry and politics in the High North.

The delegation will meet a range of representatives for Norwegian business and industry in the US, and visit companies developing advanced technology of particular interest to Norwegian enterprises.

In 2015, the US was the fourth largest recipient of Norwegian mainland exports, which constituted 32.2 billion Norwegian kroner, an unprecedented level. Export of fresh salmon doubled from 2014 to 2015. A range of Norwegian companies have established themselves in the US in recent years, and the trip provides unique opportunities to build networks aimed at strengthening cooperation between Northern Norwegian and American business and industry.

- As far as I know, this is the first time anyone with a northern perspective facilitates this kind of arrangement, with a programme adapted to our own daily lives. The aim is to strengthen Northern Norwegian expertise within areas that have direct relevance for industry development and political insight in the North, says Arne O. Holm.

Security and intelligence

Security in the North will also be a main point on the agenda during the visit. Cooperation with the US in the North is close, military and related in large degree to intelligence.

American thinking in this area will have big consequences for Norway, and the delegation will meet with a range of security policy experts in Washington, including a round table arranged by the High North Centre for Business and Governance and High North News in cooperation with the Atlantic Council’s transatlantic security imitative.

High North News will also arrange a meeting at Capitol Hill, of which the theme is media coverage of activity in the Arctic. A range of international media outlets with a focus on the High North are set to participate. High North News is arranging the meeting in cooperation with partners in Canada and the US.

Cooperation and network

- There is a comprehensive programme, with good opportunities to build network and discuss development of American politics and economics with knowledgeable and important sources within the election apparatus, Congress, investment banking, think tanks and the press, says Berit Enge, HNN’s correspondent in Washington, and programme coordinator.

- Even though the world is made smaller by new technology, it is still the case that international understanding is built by face-to-face interaction between people.  We in High North News want to contribute to creating new arenas for cooperation in the North, and we hope this programme will create new connections, over and across the ocean.