Trade statistics in the first half of 2023 compared to the same period last year showed an increase in trade in goods between Norway and Ukraine by 26%, the Norwegian-Ukrainian Chamber of Commerce (NUCC) reported.
“An important and notable trend is the significant 31% increase in Norwegian imports from Ukraine. This increase was primarily driven by growing demand for food and agricultural products used in feed production,” the NUTP said.
According to the report, in other sectors such as manufacturing, engineering, furniture and clothing, the level of trade remained stable.
A similar revival in Norwegian-Ukrainian trade relations was seen in the supply of goods from Norway to Ukraine, which grew by 25% in the first half of the year compared to last year’s figures.
Growth in seafood trade, according to the NUTP, was “particularly impressive” – up 18% compared to previous years of cooperation. Export revenue for this product category rose by 25% in monetary terms, driven by higher prices.
In addition, Norway increased its exports of electric cars in the reporting period – more than 800 units were delivered to Ukraine in June alone. “These exports account for about one-third of all imports of electric cars to Ukraine, which made Ukraine the most important export market for used Norwegian electric cars,” NUTP summarized.
Norway has decided to increase military support to Ukraine this year by NOK2.5 billion ($249 million) to NOK10 billion ($950 million) as part of the previously adopted Nansen program on military and civilian support to Ukraine of NOK15 billion annually, the Norwegian government website said Tuesday.
“Ukraine is now in urgent need of additional military support and materials. Norway is therefore increasing its military support to Ukraine by NOK2.5 billion to NOK10 billion in 2023,” Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said at a press conference marking the opening of the NATO summit in Vilnius.
In addition, Norway has also decided to increase its contribution to NATO’s Ukraine support fund to NOK300 million ($29 million) annually.
“Norway is increasing its contribution to the NATO support fund for Ukraine. Norway will contribute NOK300 million in 2023 and contribute a total of NOK1.5 billion over five years. This is a clear signal of long-term support for Ukraine’s reforms, which will further connect Ukraine to the Alliance,” the Norwegian prime minister said.
Stere also spoke about the decision to increase Norway’s investment in its own defense to a minimum of 2% of GDP.
The summit will also decide on the establishment of a NATO center for critical undersea infrastructure. “The war in Ukraine has shown once again that the protection of critical infrastructure is important for security policy. As the largest supplier of gas to Europe, Norway has a special responsibility to protect submarine infrastructure… NATO is now establishing a separate center for the protection of critical submarine infrastructure,” the Norwegian prime minister told the summit.
According to Støre, the Vilnius summit “will be the most important NATO summit of our time.”
“Among other things, we will undertake a historic increase in NATO’s collective defense capabilities with regional defense plans that have been updated for the first time since the Cold War,” he said.
The prime minister said the summit’s decisions will be important for both the entire Alliance and Norway’s security, and there are at least four reasons why the summit is crucial for the Norwegian state. “First, it will strengthen NATO’s ability to fulfill its primary task, namely the defense of member states in crisis and war. Second, the increased defense contribution means a clear strengthening of its own preparedness, security and defense capabilities. Thirdly, the summit will decide on the establishment of a separate center for the protection of undersea infrastructure, which is of fundamental importance to Norway. And fourth, the membership of Finland, and now Sweden, means a stronger Northern Europe in NATO,” Støre emphasized.
Aid to Ukraine is very different from other humanitarian projects and should largely be aimed at helping to develop private businesses and stimulating investment, Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said at Ukraine Recovery Conference in London on Wednesday.
“When providing the assistance to Ukraine, we must make sure that local businesses will benefit. Therefore, we announced a donation of EUR 25 million to provide more insurances and guarantee mechanisms so that companies are willing to invest,” she said.
Huitfeldt said this is part of the Norwegian program worth EUR 7 billion for Ukraine.
She also noted the importance of a sound legal system, commitment to fighting corruption and burden-sharing when it comes to investment risk, and cited the decentralization reform as positive.
Earlier at the conference, Vice-President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis announced the signing on that day of an agreement to launch an experimental military insurance scheme. He said the EU is also working on a pilot project for export credit guarantee schemes to Ukraine.
Norwegian Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram has announced the decision to allocate $7.5 billion for assistance to Ukraine over the next five years.
According to the website of the Ukrainian defense ministry on Saturday, the head of the Norwegian defense ministry said this during a meeting on Friday with Ukrainian Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov during his visit to Kiev.
A corresponding program has been submitted to the Norwegian parliament for approval. Gram announced that Norway plans to transfer launchers, fire control points and missiles to NASAMS anti-aircraft missile systems to Ukraine.
Reznikov discussed with Gram further consolidation of efforts in countering armed aggression by the Russian Federation and the implementation of bilateral projects to strengthen the capabilities of the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
“The high-tech assistance provided by Norway is already successfully working to protect the civilian population of Ukraine. In particular, in repulsing the last mass rocket attack on critical infrastructure facilities on March 9. Our air defense soldiers successfully used it,” Reznikov noted.
The Norwegian authorities have decided to allocate 12 tanks of various types to Ukraine, the head of the Norwegian Ministry of Defense, Bjorn Arild Gram, has said.
“Norway will donate eight tanks and up to four special purpose tanks to Ukraine. The authorities will also allocate funds for the purchase of ammunition and spare parts, said Defense Minister Bjorn Arild Gram,” the Norwegian government said in a statement.
The statement did not specify which tanks Oslo will transfer to Kiev. However, according to the document, Norway will send about $24.7 million to the European Peace Foundation for the purchase of ammunition and spare parts for Leopard 2 tanks.
In early February, Prime Minister of Norway Jonas Gahr Støre proposed to allocate annually 15 billion NOK (about $1.5 billion) for the provision of humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine over the next five years.
Earlier German authorities announced their decision to transfer to Ukraine the first batch of 14 Leopard 2 tanks and 178 Leopard 1 tanks. At the same time, German authorities give their allies permission to deliver Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as well.
Leopard 2 is the main battle tank of the Bundeswehr. It is also in service with Austria, Hungary, Poland, Turkey, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, Greece, Finland and the Netherlands. It has been in service since 1979 and has many modifications; over 3.6 thousand of these tanks were manufactured.
Norwegian Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram on Wednesday announced Oslo’s intention to send German-made tanks to Ukraine, Norwegian broadcaster NRK reported.
“Norway will send German tanks to Ukraine as part of the Western countries’ decision to supply weapons,” NRK quoted the minister as saying.
The head of the Defense Ministry did not specify how many tanks he was talking about.
Earlier on Wednesday, US President Joe Biden announced the decision to send Ukraine 31 M1 Abrams tanks.
It also became known that the German authorities decided to transfer the first batch of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. At the same time, German authorities will give their allies permission to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
