STORY / PUBLIC SOURCE RECORD
Canada calling: Why the moment is right for Norwegian companies
- Published 26 May 2026; updated 17 September 2026; estimated reading time 4 minutes. The article says Canada and Norway share trust-based business culture, transparent processes and collaborative norms, while noting Canadians may avoid direct disagreement and offer more step-by-step guidance. It presents recent Canadian policy shifts as creating new openings for international business.
- The article says Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government has pursued closer Nordic cooperation, refreshed trade agreements and simpler procurement. It names Canada’s Major Projects Office and says its portfolio of national projects carries expected investments of CAD 116 billion across LNG, mining, infrastructure, ports, hydropower, maritime, forestry, agritech and space. The page argues that Norwegian companies already have relevant expertise in many of these sectors.
- In July 2026, Canada selected a German-Norwegian consortium to supply 12 submarines, which the article calls the largest defence procurement in Canadian history. It says this creates opportunities in defence and dual-use technology. A Norway–Canada space-cooperation MoU is also cited.
- The article attributes added commercial momentum to Canada’s stated aim of doubling non-US trade volumes and developing new trade agreements. It describes Canadian firms as looking beyond the US and mentions a consumer shift toward domestic products; these are the article’s characterisations.
- It identifies market activity across manufacturing/design, aquaculture, maritime, energy, agritech, space, forestry, infrastructure and Arctic cooperation. Canada’s population is given as 40 million. The article says Norwegian SMEs may benefit from shared local representation because travel from Norway is time-consuming. Innovation Norway’s Canada office has a long-term agreement to build a local network for a group of Norwegian maritime companies; staff Geir Haugum and Hamid Shirazi attend events and network on their behalf.
- Norwegian company Zegeba is profiled for a cloud platform that digitises maritime forms, checklists and workflows and is designed for field use with unreliable connectivity. CEO Jørn Ivar Klungsøyr credits Innovation Norway with local market insight and network access. The page’s solution carousel includes Zegeba and Maritime Robotics among its 10 linked offerings.
- Canada contacts listed: Geir Askvik Haugum, Commercial Counsellor/Director, Ottawa, geir.haugum@innovationnorway.no; Hamid Shirazi, Special Advisor for CleanTech & Renewables, Toronto, hamid.shirazi@innovationnorway.no; Caleb Chapman, Senior Advisor, Toronto, caleb.chapman@innovationnorway.no; and Milica Njegovan, Senior Advisor, Ottawa, milica.njegovan@innovationnorway.no. The article links to the Canada market page and relevant Norwegian solutions.