Norway's Ambassador to the 海角视频 is confident of a strong future between Grimsby and his homeland as a new era in global trade approaches.
Wegger Chr Strommen made his first visit to Britain’s seafood capital, as despite a free trade deal having been done, concerns continue to be aired over frictionless movement of the perishable fresh supplies.
He took in huge processor Seachill as part of a two day inaugural visit, following a meeting with key seafood industry representatives that also included the catching, buying and administrative elements.
Norway is not in the EU, but trade flows are reliant on easy passage through several member states, unlike Iceland and the Faroes, where supplies are shipped direct. It, together with labour, has been a constant red flag from the sector in the negotiations.
Mr Strommen, who signed the deal back in April, said: “I really like to come to Grimsby and this area because it has strong and old Norwegian connections, some of them well sustained, not least the business here.
“It has a huge amount of importance for Norway, as we are in the fishing business. It is a huge market but also a mindset. 85 to 90 per cent of our people living on the coast.
All of Norway, like Grimsby, is familiar with the industry and wider maritime businesses. It is a huge part of our economic output.”
Telling how he likes to get out of London and into the regions, particularly Scotland and the East Coast, as he “is trying to be a good neighbour”, Mr Strommen said: “These days Westminster politics dominates a lot in the media and you need to travel to see people. I like to get around and see MPs, to get a sense of the place.”
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Of those politics, he said: “We will respect whatever comes out of this. It is easy for businesses to come to us. With historical ties and where the town is physically located, Grimsby is somewhere very easy for us to relate to. It is extremely friendly, and people seem to appreciate the element of the neighbour knocking on the door.
“There have got to be some good opportunities for collaboration when things are a bit clearer about Brexit and what the things are we really need to react to, but it is extremely easy for us, with such a lot of shared history. The North Sea was once one big market, and for all kinds of maritime services it still can be.”
At Seachill, 90 per cent of fresh salmon is Norwegian.
Host, procurement director Charles Boardman, said: “We really appreciate the time that has been spent by the ambassador. It gives a great deal of comfort that there is serious consideration of the relationship between Norway and the 海角视频 in fish.
“Our big concern is that we cannot wait for fish to spend a day on the quayside, and that is an organisational thing to work between our countries, so too any external factors stopping the free flow of goods.
“The relationship is taken seriously by all partners, and there are benefits for both. We know, as a factory we support a good volume of high skilled jobs in Norway, as we do in coastal areas in other countries in the world.”