City Breakfast with the Ambassador of Norway to Australia

Norwegian foreign policy priorities in a changing and more unpredictable world.

The Australian Institute of International Affairs WA (AIIA WA) will be holding breakfast at the Western Australian Club with H.E. Ms Unni Kløvstad, Ambassador of Norway to Australia, to discuss Norwegian foreign policy priorities in a changing and more unpredictable world and what it means for Australian and Norwegian economic, trade and bilateral relations.

Price: $35. A set breakfast will be included in the cost of tickets and seats are strictly limited, so please register with the WA Club directly by calling (08) 9481 7000 or email events@waclub.com.au

Norway and Australia Economic, Trade and Bilateral Relations

Within the Australian offshore and associated service sectors there are over 40 Norwegian companies, the majority of which are operating out of Perth, essentially comprising Norway’s major footprint in Australia.  In turn, the Norwegian defence industry looks to Australia as a growing and interesting market. The maritime sector has a longstanding tradition in Australia with some Norwegian companies having a more than 100-year history.

In 2016 total two-way merchandise trade between Australia and Norway was worth $387 million. Australian exports to Norway were valued at $68 million, predominantly specialised machinery and parts, and alcoholic beverages. Merchandise imports from Norway were valued at $319 million, consisting mainly of fish and fish products, specialised machinery and parts, and measuring and analysing instruments. In 2016, Australia exported $243 million in services to Norway, predominantly transport and education-related travel. In 2016, Australia imported $476 million in services from Norway, predominantly transport and professional services.

Australia and Norway cooperate closely in the United Nations and World Trade Organisation, and work together to advance international peace and security, including through our military contributions to the NATO-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan and the Global Coalition against Daesh in Iraq and Syria. Norway is an important interlocutor for Australia on Antarctic issues.

About the Speaker

Her Excellency Ms Unni Kløvstad, Ambassador of Norway to Australia.

Unni Kløvstad is a career diplomat who has served in the Norwegian Foreign Service for over two decades. She has extensive multilateral experience serving at Norwegian Missions to the UN, NATO and EU. Most recently, she held the position as Director, Head of Section for Security Policy and North America at the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, where she was responsible for NATO cooperation, UN peacekeeping, bilateral relations to the USA and Canada, as well as security sector reform and global security challenges. Prior to 2009, as Minister Counsellor to the Norwegian Mission to the European Union in Brussels, Ms Kløvstad coordinated the mission’s work on the EU’s foreign and security policy, including security and defence policy. She had previously held the position of Second Secretary to the Permanent Mission of Norway to the UN in New York, as well as First Secretary to the Norwegian Mission to NATO in Brussels.