Ten Norwegian brands to become better exporters

‘I’m looking forward to networking and learning from other Norwegian exporters. We hope the programme will enhance our export knowledge generally, and in relation to the German contract market in particular,’

says Fora Form’s Head of Exports, Stine Kahrs. The furniture producer from Sunnmøre is home to a range of well-known brands, and is one of the ten companies that Design and Architecture Norway (DOGA) and Innovation Norway have selected to participate in the pilot programme that will generate growth and increased exports in the design and brand-driven finished products industry.

‘The market is demanding Norwegian design, sustainability, quality, lifestyle and value to a greater degree than ever before. Norwegian products, producers and designers are associated with these terms. At the same time, the finished products industry has expressed a need for long-term help in developing their exports,’ explains DOGA Project Manager Anita C. Drabløs.  

This is why DOGA and Innovation Norway are in the process of developing a programme that will form the basis for a long-term investment in exports and that may lead to the development of brand new tools for this industry. The goal is double exports.

Bente Syversen of Innovation Norway and Anita Drabløs from DOGA have selected ten participants from more than twenty qualified applicants to take part in the pilot programme, which is aimed at the German market. The next step is to help these companies enter the German market. The pilot project will conclude in the autumn of 2019.

The ten producers are: 

• VAD AS from Stordal in Sunnmøre
• Aclima AS from Krøderen in Buskerud
• Steni AS from Stabekk in Akershus
• Alfa Sko AS from Gran in Hadeland
• Fora Form AS from Ørsta in Sunnmøre
• Heymat AS from Mo i Rana
• Gudbrandsdalens Uldvarefabrik AS from Lillehammer in Oppland
• Northern.no AS from Oslo
• Hilding Anders Norway AS from Berger in Svelvik
• Porsgrunds Porselænsfabrik AS from Porsgrunn in Telemark