NORWEGIAN Ambassador Erik Forner became his country’s top envoy to the Philippines a year and a half ago. Since that time, he has learned to accept the traffic situation in Metro Manila, while also immersing himself into everything the country has to offer.
“I have learned to let go of the traffic,” Forner said, adding that, while stuck in traffic, he is already doing embassy-related work inside his car.
Forner always has a full slate on his table by the time he arrives at the embassy by 8 a.m., as he prepares for meetings, read e-mails and attend to different concerns.
He said, at any given day, there are different meetings, including those from Philippine government offices, colleagues from other nations, companies and non-governmental organizations.
Forner said applying for the ambassadorial position here in the Philippines was a family decision.
“We want to learn something new. We want to see something different. It is an adventure we want to experience. Europe is not much different. It is more or less the same culturally and climate-wise,” Forner said.
Posted here in the Philippines presumably until 2019, he is already making it a point for his family to see and experience new places in the country.
“The nature here is so beautiful. There are exciting things to do in the beaches,” Forner said.
The great divide
While the country has a lot going for it as an emerging tourism destination, there still remains a big gap between the rich and the poor. This is particularly true to Forner when he first arrived in the country.
“There is contrast between Forbes Park and other parts of the city that is not as privileged. Many of the big cities have it. A mixture of the good and bad, rich and poor,” Forner said in describing what he saw outside of the airport.
He added that the situation here in the Philippines is very much similar to other emerging countries in the world.
Forner explained the challenge is to have inclusive growth and to have more members belonging to the middle class. He also said the Philippine population growth is a challenge.
“Any democracy will need a fairly large middle class to be stable,” he said, while adding, “Even if the cake is getting bigger, more people need to share it.”
However, he said the Philippines’s young population is its prime asset, as it secures the country’s future.
He also said the administration of President Aquino is doing all the right things for the Philippine economy.
“The Aquino administration is on the right path. The numbers speak for themselves. No doubt the government has been successful. There is stable growth and low inflation. It has also done a lot in fighting corruption and implementing political reforms,” Forner said.
Forner hopes that whoever will be elected as the next Philippine president in the coming May general elections will be able to continue the good policies of the current administration.
An open secret
Norway has largely been insulated from the economic crisis that has gripped a large number of European countries.
The secret to all of it is that the country has developed a strong enough economy to withstand any external economic shocks while also being self-sufficient in terms of its electricity needs.
“We have tremendous economic success because of the ocean industry. Politically, we have also been able to save money and not spend it. It is also strict and good management of natural resources,” Forner said.
Forner added that the ocean industry is a new term that includes oil and gas on the upstream while also includes the maritime sector.
He described the industry as having a lot of synergy with the maritime sector supporting floating vessels that are then into aqua culture and also then into renewable energy.
“Windmills are being created in the ocean. Shipping companies are investing in seafood. There is so much area out there. We just have to keep it clean,” Forner said.
Norway is the second-largest exporter of seafood in the world. It is also has hydropower plants that supply 100 percent of the country’s electricity needs.
He said the ocean currently only provides 2 percent of the world’s food, and that it can be further expanded to 50 percent.
The ocean and the power industry are the two strongest links between Norway and the Philippines.
According to Forner, at any given time, there are 25,000 Filipino seafarers on Norwegian ships, while Norwegian company SN Power, along with Aboitiz Power, has an investment in Magat Dam.
“We want to invest more. The potential for renewable energy is good here in the country,” Forner said.
Then, there is also the Norwegian Wealth Fund, the largest pension fund in the world, which is currently valued at $803 billion.
Forner said the fund is derived from the surplus in the oil sector and are strategically invested across the world.
“It is placed investments, including in the Philippines. We have investments in 50 listed companies in the country. It has 1 percent share in the global equity markets,” Forner said, while adding that they also have investments in state papers and properties in several countries.
He said Norway is investing the fund actively while avoiding risks and looking at long term perspective. They are also following an ethical standard, including avoiding investments in companies that sell firearms and ammunitions.
Forner said that, aside from a sound economy, they also have a stable population growth and a radical policy when it comes to equality among the sexes.
“Women are encouraged to work. Males are allowed to stay at home for weeks to be with their children. There is good legislative support for education,” Forner said.
Norway’s population is only a little over 5 million.
Peace is achievable
Norway is involved in facilitating peace talks with the National Democratic Front and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front. They are part of the international monitoring team.
“It is the most important thing we do. We are extremely careful only to help when asked. It is up to the government and conflicting parties,” Forner said.
Forner is encouraged that businesses are very much supportive of the peace process while citing the Makati Business Club and the Mindanao Business Council.
“The need for business is basic. It creates wealth. It needs business to function, lift society and see development,” he added.
Forner said there should be patience in the peace process, and they are optimistic that there will be a negotiated good solution in the end.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano