On December 19, the East CCI of Norway organized a networking seminar in Kirkenes, focusing on reputation in light of the new geopolitical situation following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. The significant interest from the County Municipality and other leading bodies confirmed the relevance of the seminar.
Jan Blichfeldt, a Norwegian economist, advertising executive, and writer with several prominent positions in marketing, shared his insights on how to best manage reputation and avoid negative consequences in challenging times. With three published books on brand building and substantial contributions through articles and op-eds in Aftenposten, VG, and Dagens Næringsliv, he provided valuable perspectives on reputation from theory to practical measures.
Bård Gamnes, CEO of Barel AS, presented how their company handled all challenges related to relocating the factory from Murmansk to Kirkenes. Barel specializes in the development, production, and sale of electronic products in the international lighting industry, with a focus on demanding and hazardous environments, often found in the oil and gas industry.
Several participants, including the chamber, shared their experiences of being in or undergoing restructuring processes. Feedback during the discussion emphasized the importance of having such networking seminars.
The project coordinator and seminar moderator, Olga Larsen from EAST CCI of Norway, concluded by presenting the status of the chamber’s main activities in 2023. She highlighted the success of the Chamber in establishing a stronger foothold in the markets of partner countries such as Turkiye, the Baltic States, Croatia, Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Kazakhstan, and others. This success directly contributed to members entering concrete business contracts and new partnerships in the partner countries. She encourages members and partners to reach out to capitalize on such business networks further in 2024.
