Economy and Business, Politics | – Large global groups like to choose Oslo as London
Minister of Trade and Industry Jan Christian Vestre believes that Oslo can compete with the most important European cities, but that the city’s farms must continue to work with confidence.
Rumor has it that he convinced an entire litter of 16- and 17-year-olds to become furniture manufacturers when he attended the opening of Vika upper secondary school in August.
– I probably really talked most about that it is possible to save the world a little no matter what you make, but nice that they liked it, then, smiles Jan Christian Vestre (Labor).
The speech in Vika belongs to his previous life. In mid-October, furniture heir Jan Christian Vestre was appointed new Minister of Trade and Industry. Thus, his career as a leader in the family business Vestre was put on hold.
He is well on his way to filling that break: He is already talking at turbo speed about the policy instruments, value creation and the green shift, and before Christmas he will meet a hundred companies around the country.
– The districts often claim that this is where the values are created. What do you think about the role of Oslo?
– The values create all over the country. When we say that we must take the whole country into use, this also applies to the big cities, says Vestre.
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– An engine for the conversion
At the same time, the Minister of Trade and Industry believes that Oslo has some special characteristics by virtue of being the capital.
– Oslo is an engine in the transition. The city has strong environments in research, finance, technology and services, and many large industrial locomotives have their headquarters here.
The West has little left over for the classic city-country conflict. Oslo is as dependent on the rest of the country’s happiness, as conversely, is the mantra of the Minister of Trade and Industry.
He himself has roots from Oslo and from Western Norway. He lived in Haugesund for the first year and a half, before the family moved to the capital. From growing up on Nordberg / Tåsen and later Sandaker, where he now lives, he has set the city changing.
– An enormous amount has happened in the last ten to fifteen years. Before, it was Stockholm and Copenhagen that mattered. Well, I think I’m big global groups who like to put the European office in Oslo as in London.
– Why do you think they will choose Oslo?
– It’s a lot about it being good to live here. Oslo has become a cultural capital. You live good lives here. Oslo can be counted on as a European city.
No Oslo measures
– Oslo is a very divided by purely economic. What can you do to level this out, and make sure more people on the East Coast are more involved in business through farm ownership?
– What we can do through business policy is limited. My goal is for the companies to create more value overall so that we get more to redistribute. Then we must have a fairer tax system, and then we can put in more welfare measures and social measures where necessary. We can make it easier to create our own workplace, and in that way contribute to more power distribution, says Vestre.
The Minister of Trade and Industry is a strong supporter of the wealth tax, and believes it must be increased in order for the resources to be distributed more fairly. Vestre believes that salmon word Gustav Witzøe has threatened to move out of the country is un-Norwegian behavior.
– I think that those who can afford it should pay their wealth tax with pleasure. The fantastic industrial adventure Witzøe has created, together with the employees, manages to pay the tax very well. The values are cabinets in a welfare state where it is arranged for entrepreneurs to succeed, says Vestre.
One thing that is very Norwegian, however, is the Jante law.
– Oslo probably has a bit to go on here compared to the other big cities in the world. Norwegian companies are the best in the world in a number of areas, and we must dare to say that, says Vestre, who believes that Oslo can become a driving force internationally in the circular economy.
Circular economy is about reducing waste and reusing resources.
– You think big?
– I think globally, that is. All of Norway must be proud of Oslo.
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