Continued cooperation between NHO and CCIA

Group photo at NHO

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Angola (CCIA) and the representatives of their affiliate Business Support Center (CAE) were in Norway for a three day study tour from the 7th to the 10th of October 2011.

The cooperation between NHO and Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Angola (CCIA) started in 2006 and has developed very positively during the period. Many activities aimed at strengthening the capacity of CCIA both at central level and in the 18 province chambers of CCIA have been carried through.

CAE was created in 2004 as a result of a survey conducted by CDC (Citizens’ Democracy Corps) Development Solutions, about the needs of SMEs to be assisted in developing into competitive companies as suppliers to oil and gas industry in Angola. In the inception period, CAE was sponsored by the many oil and gas operations in Angola and was located in Sonangol offices. As of 2011, CAE became a department in CCIA with its 26 employees.

During the three working days, meetings and discussions were held at the Næringslivets Hovedorganisasjon ( NHO) headquarters offices, in Det Norske Veritas (DNV) - and INTSOK – Norwegian Oil and Gas Partners, in Oslo. Two days were spent in Stavanger where both Statoil, The Oil Industry Federation, which is a NHO federation and The Regional Office of NHO in Rogaland hosted the delegation for meetings.

The meetings, presentations and discussions in DNV, INTSOK in Oslo and Statoil and The NHO regional office in Stavanger were of high value to the Angolan delegation and were beneficial for all parties involved. Arrangements on further cooperation and contact were agreed upon and the delegation travelled back home on the 10th of October.