Forums & Summits

The Philippines and Norway share a robust and growing partnership built on mutual respect and shared interests in sustainable development, maritime cooperation, and inclusive economic growth. Following successful engagements at the national level, the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila is delighted to bring this vital conversation to the heart of the Visayas.

This focused evening forum, "Philippines-Norway Partnership Forum: Navigating EFTA and Future Collaborations in the Visayas," aims to directly engage with business leaders, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders in this dynamic region. The event will provide a unique platform to explore the benefits of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) agreement, of which Norway is a key member, and to identify concrete avenues for enhanced collaboration between Norway and the Visayas across strategic sectors.

The presence of His Excellency Ambassador Christian Halaas Lyster as the Key Resource Speaker underscores Norway's commitment to deepening ties beyond the capital and fostering direct engagement with key regional economic hubs like Cebu and the wider Visayas.

Event Overview

Organized by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, in partnership with the European Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, Inc., this strategic forum is designed to capitalize upon the Visayas region's dynamic economic expansion and substantial potential within key sectors pivotal to both Philippine and Norwegian interests. The Visayas is recognized as a crucial maritime center, a rapidly developing hub for ICT-BPM and innovation, and presents significant opportunities in renewable energy, seafood, tourism, and the creative industries. The forum will facilitate direct engagement between Visayan stakeholders and the Royal Norwegian Embassy, under the leadership of Ambassador Lyster, to thoroughly explore these valuable synergies.

Principal objectives include elucidating the advantages of the EFTA-Philippines Free Trade Agreement for Visayan enterprises, underscoring Norway's strategic economic priorities within the region, and cultivating direct dialogue to identify actionable partnerships and collaborative ventures across these high-potential sectors.

The discussions, prominently featuring Ambassador Lyster, will offer actionable intelligence on leveraging the EFTA for Visayan businesses and will highlight prime opportunities for collaboration in sustainable maritime development, renewable energy, ICT and startups, seafood and agribusiness, and the creative industries. This focused initiative aims to cultivate robust partnerships, effectively translating the Visayas' inherent potential into tangible economic benefits and reinforcing bilateral economic relations, thereby fostering mutual and sustainable prosperity between Norway and the Visayas region.