IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
12 October 2021  
(21-7720) Page: 1/11 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects of  
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
  
REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2  
OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT  
NORWAY  
The following communication, dated 8 October  2021, from the delegation of Norway, is being 
circulated pursuant to paragraph 1 of the Decision on the Implementation of Article 66.2 of the 
TRIPS Agreement ( document IP/C/28).  
 
_______________  
 
 
1  INTRODUCTION  
1.  Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement requires "developed country Members to provide incentives 
to enterprises and institutions in their territories for  the purpose of promoting and encouraging 
technology transfer to least  developed countr ies in order to enable them to create a sound and viable 
technological base ". The present note provides an overview of the relevant facilities provided by the 
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad) and the Norwegian Investment Fund for 
Developing Countries (Norfund).  
2.  Least developed countries are eligible for Norad and Norfund incentive schemes along with other 
developing countries.  
2  THE NORWEGIAN AGENCY FOR  DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION (NORAD)  
3.  Norad is a directorate under the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and is responsible for 
quality -assurance of Norwegian development cooperation. Norad also administers several grant 
programmes for specific purposes, among them is private sector development. Norad provides 
incentives for technology transfer to least  developed countries (LDCs) through its facilities for 
pre-investment support, strategic partnerships, the Oil for Development programme and the Fish 
for De velopment programme. Many other NORAD programmes supported by Norad also include 
elements of technology transfer.  
4.  The facilities for pre -investment support are application -based and untied. The main users are 
Norwegian enterprises. The schemes are open for all kinds of technology transfer, but priority is 
given to investments in renewable energy, agriculture (particul arly climate -resilient agriculture in 
Africa), information and communication technologies (ICT) as well as the marine and maritime 
sectors. Technical assistance is the main mode of technology transfer but the schemes also include 
investments in basic infra structure. The financing facilities are fully utilized every year.  
5.  The purpose of the Norad  facilities for pre -investment support is to encourage firms to invest in 
developing countries and LDCs. The support schemes intend to pave the way for long -term 
commercially viable investments through financial support for risk -reducing measures and/or 
measures that promote the sustainability and feasibility of private investment projects. The facilities 
promote cooperation, including cooperation relating to transfer of technology, through the support 
of feasibility studies for establishing joint ventures or foreign subsidiaries, training in order to 
strengthen the local staff and management of joint ventures or companies that are owned wholly or 
partially by one or more foreign companies, investments in basic environmental infrastructure and 
basic infrastr ucture (road, water/sanitation, electricity and telecommunication). The additionality of IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
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  Norad 's support to individual companies has been in helping direct investment towards countries 
and regions where companies would not necessarily have invested otherwi se, due to lack of contact 
to facilitate implementation and risk, among other reasons. Supported projects are usually 
completed between one to three years. Disbursements to LDCs for this facility in 2020 are listed in 
Table 1. The Norad facilities for pre -investment support have a special window for renewable energy 
investments, also listed in Table 1.  
6.  Within Norad 's support to Renewable Energy the  aim is to increase access to renewable energy 
in developing countries. Norad 's support to renewable energy foc uses on areas where Norway has a 
special expertise to offer and mobilizes private capital and competence in areas such as hydropower, 
solar, wind and bioenergy. One example is support to a five year scholarship -program on hydropower 
at the Norwegian Techni cal University - NTNU. This programme is highly valued by private sector, 
as the programme educates hydropower engineers, and contributes to highly qualified local 
workforce in partner countries.  
7.  Norad has also introduced an instrument called strategic par tnerships. The grant scheme aims 
to stimulate to a business climate that promotes private sector development in developing countries, 
including strategic partnerships with private enterprises and non -commercial organisations. Private 
enterprises and non -commercial organisations that jointly address specific framework impediments 
in value chains in developing countries are particularly prioritized, but vocational training is also a 
focus area. The facility is application -based and untied. Private enterprises  could in 2020, for the 
first time be the lead applicant for the proposal. In the most recent application round, projects in 
Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda were granted support. The sectors prioritised for technology transfer 
are agriculture and agro -proce ssing, information and communication technology (ICT), and fish and 
marine resources. The supported projects are multi -year, usually between three and five years. 
Disbursements to LDCs for this facility in 2020 are listed in Table 2.  
8.  The Norwegian Oil for Development Programme (OfD) aims at assisting developing countries and 
LDCs, upon their request, in their efforts to manage petroleum resources in a way that generates 
economic growth and promotes welfare of the whole population in an environmentally susta inable 
way. The Oil for Development Programme is engaged in a number of other initiatives, either directly 
or via other donors and implementing partners. Disbursements to LDCs for this facility in 2020 are 
listed in Table 3. The supported projects are mult i-year, usually between three and five years. In 
September 2021, the Government of Norway made a decision to phase out the OfD programme 
within 2024, in order to give priority to greener development projects.  
9.  Within Norwegian development cooperation in fis heries and aquaculture one aim is to introduce 
appropriate technology and systems, and over time ensure that these are operated as intended. 
Norway has supported the Nansen Programme for more than 40 years. One central element in the 
programme is the resea rch vessel "Dr. Fridtjof Nansen ". The programme aims at gathering 
information about the marine resources and environment, and support developing countries and 
LDCs in utilizing these data for improved management of their marine resources.  
10.  Since 1990 the p rogramme has mainly been operating in the coastal states of Africa, including 
LDCs like Angola, Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo , The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, 
Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, Mozambique, Senegal, Sierra Leone and Tanzania. The  programme 
has also over the years conducted three surveys in Myanmar. Scientists and managers take part in 
the planning and operation of the surveys, as well as post -survey work. The participants learn about 
instruments and techniques to measure the size and composition of fish stocks as well as 
identification of other organisms in the ocean. Physical parameters of the marine environment are 
measured continuously. The results are analysed  and formulated as basis for management decisions. 
With time series t hat are developed, information can be achieved about changes and trends in the 
marine environment and its resources. The data collected are the property of the country in question. 
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) manages the programme . The Institute of 
Marine Research in Norway provides scientific expertise.  
3  NORWEGIAN INVESTMENT FUND FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES ( NORFUND)  
About Norfund  
11.  The purpose of Norfund is to contribute to building sustainable commercial businesses in 
developing count ries by providing risk capital and expertise. Norfund contributes to economic IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
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  development and sustainable jobs in poor countries through the development of profitable 
enterprises, particularly within the fields of clean energy, the financial sector and agr ibusiness, 
coupled with transfer of knowledge and technology.  
12.  Norfund's main priority investment region is Sub -Saharan Africa. We also invest in selected 
countries in South -East Asia and Central America. Norfund has a local presence with offices and staff  
in all the main geographic areas. We aim for that at least 33% of our portfolio should be in least 
developed countries and 50% in Sub -Saharan Africa as these are areas with a particular shortage 
of capital and expertise. Of new commitments in 2020, the LD C share was 31%, which amounts to 
NOK 1.5 billion. Of the total portfolio, our commitment in LDCs is 39%, well above our target of 
33%.  
13.  Norfund concentrate our investments in clean energy, agribusiness and manufacturing, green 
infrastructure and financial institutions. These are sectors with high developmental returns and 
where Norfund's prerequisites for mobilising expertise of international quality are good. Assistance 
from Norfund is untied and does not have to be in cooperation with Norwegian enterprise s.  
14.  Norfund provides capital in the form of equity and debt. Preference is given to equity 
investments because in most developing countries equity is the scarcest type of capital that 
enterprises need. Our direct ownership enables us to be an influential i nvestor and have direct impact 
on company governance. As an equity investor, we have a long -term perspective on our 
investments. Technology and competence transfers are an integral part of Norfund's investment 
activities, both regarding operational and ind ustrial management, as well as health, safety and 
environmental issues. The development of these elements is core to the organization's mission.  
15.  Norfund exercises active ownership in the companies and funds it invests in and it often requires 
seats on the investees ' boards or other decision -making bodies. This gives Norfund proximity to 
operations and the possibility of influencing practices and standards over time. Given an ownership 
horizon of four-ten years, Norfund works for the creation of a corporate culture that is engaged in 
continuous improvement of corporate governance, and environmental and social standards. Action 
plans are sometimes used to stake out a long -term course for how companies should shift from 
operating according to local standards to  using international standards.  
16.  Norfund also has a special business development and support scheme, the Business Support, 
which is financed by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to support sustainable 
investments. The Business Support was est ablished in 2000 based on a mutual recognition by the 
MFA, Norad and Norfund of the need for technical and professional assistance in relation to 
investment in the private sector in developing countries. The grants contribute to strengthening the 
developme ntal impacts of Norfund 's investment activities. In 2019 Norfund disbursed NOK 14 million 
to 38 projects, which of 13 were exclusively in LDCs. Digitisation is one of the priorities in the 
Business Support strategies, and in 2020 we have seen an increase i n applications focusing on 
digitisation after the COVID -19 outbreak.  
Investments in agribusiness and manufacturing  
17.  Within the agribusiness and manufacturing sector, Norfund disbursed around NOK 754 million 
in 2020 to our directs investments in investees' o perations in least developed countries. Overview 
of Norfund's investments in food and agribusiness with disbursements in LDC's in 2020 are shown 
in table 4.  
Investments in clean energy  
18.  Within the field of clean energy, Norfund has several investments invol ving transfer of 
state-of-the-art technologies to developing countries. NOK 251 million were disbursed to investees 
within clean energy in LDCs in 2020. Clean energy investments with disbursements to LDCs in 2020 
are listed in table 5.  
Investments in finan cial institutions  
19.  Financial inclusion is critical to support growth and job creation. When investing in banks, 
microfinance providers, and other financial institutions Norfund focuses on locally owned financial 
institutions with good growth potential that are suited to creating and delivering valuable services. 
Close to NOK 635 million were disbursed to our direct investments in LDCs within the financial sector IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
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  in 2020. Overview of Norfund 's equity investments in the financial sector with disbursements in L DCs 
in 2020 is shown in table 6.  
20.  In addition to direct investments, Norfund also invests in funds that focus on small and 
medium -sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are important for local value creation and employment, but 
are generally too small and too diver se for Norfund to invest in directly. By investing through local 
and regional funds, Norfund can reach enterprises that often have trouble getting finance from 
formal banks.  
21.  Tables 1 -6 are contained in Annex 1 to this report.  
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  IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
- 5 - ANNEX 1: ILLUSTRATIVE TABLES1 
Table 1: Norad 's disbursements to pre -investment support to firms to invest in LDCs. Figures in million NOK  
Recipient country  DAC Main sector (code+name)  DAC Sub sector (code+name)  2020  
Malawi  232 – Energy generation, renewable sources  20 - Hydro -electric power plants  1,4 
Malawi Total    1,4 
Mali 232 – Energy generation, renewable sources  30 - Solar energy for centralised grids  2,3 
Mali Total    2,3 
Myanmar  232 – Energy generation, renewable sources  20 - Hydro -electric power plants  5,7 
 313 – Fishing  20 – Fishery development  0,3 
Myanmar Total    5,9 
Rwanda  232 – Energy generation, renewable sources  20 - Hydro -electric power plants  6,3 
Rwanda Total    6,3 
Tanzania  232 – Energy generation, renewable sources  40 – Wind energy  0,5 
 312 – Forestry  20 – Forestry development  0,8 
Tanzania Total    1,2 
Uganda  232 – Energy generation, renewable sources  31 - Solar energy for isolated grids and standalone systems  0,5 
 311 - Agriculture  93 – Agricultural financial services  1,0 
Uganda Total    1,5 
Grand Total     18,7 
 
  
 
1 In English and French only.    
  IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
- 6 - Table 2: Norad 's disbursements to strategic partnership grant scheme. Figures in million NOK  
Recipient country  DAC Main sector (code+name)  DAC Sub sector (code+name)  2020  
Ethiopia  113 – Secondary education  30 - Vocational training  2.8 
 311 – Agriculture  50 - Agricultural inputs  9.1 
  61 - Food crop production  1.7 
 321 – Industry  30 - SME development  6.6 
Ethiopia Total    20.2 
Mozambique  113 – Secondary education  30 - Vocational training  3.6 
 311 – Agriculture  20 - Agricultural development  3.4 
Mozambique Total    6.9 
Nepal  113 – Secondary education  30 - Vocational training  1.0 
Nepal Total    1.0 
Tanzania  311 – Agriculture  20 - Agricultural development  4.2 
Tanzania Total    4.2 
Uganda  220 – Communications  40 – Information and communication technology (ICT)  5.0 
 311 – Agriculture  20 - Agricultural development  7.7 
  62 – Industrial crops/export crops  -1.8 
Uganda Total    10.9 
Zambia  313 - Fishing  81 – Fishery education and training  3.4 
Zambia Total    3.4 
Grand Total     46.6   
  IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
- 7 - Table 3: Norad's disbursements to Oil for Development in LDCs. Figures in million NOK  
Recipient country  2020  
Angola  1.3 
Benin  0.5 
Mozambique  14.8 
Myanmar  13.8 
Somalia  2.1 
South Sudan  1.9 
Sudan  1.0 
Tanzania  13.0 
Uganda  20.5 
Grand Total  68.9 
 
    
  IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
- 8 - Table 4: Norfund 's disbursements to Agribusiness and manufacturing. Figures in NOK  
Country  Investee  Department  Sector  Disbursement  Total 
commitment  Type of capital  Initial year  
Mozambique  African Century 
Real Estates Ltd.  Scalable 
enterprises  Construction of 
buildings  2 681 875            135 270 216  Equity  2015 
Tanzania  Agrica  Scalable 
enterprises  Agriculture, 
forestry, fishing  1 156 438              54 032 109  Guarantee  2010 
Tanzania  ASILIA (African 
Spirit Group 
Limited)  Scalable 
enterprises  Tourism  26 404 400            130 727 080  Mezzanine Loan  2013 
Mozambique, Haiti, 
Tanzania, DR 
Congo, Zambia, 
Senegal, Niger  European Financing 
Partners SA  Scalable 
enterprises  Investment funds         26 707 747            514 479 273  Loan 2006 
Malawi  FES Scalable 
enterprises  Agriculture, 
forestry, fishing       104 079 766            115 976 321  Equity/Loan  2020 
Tanzania, Uganda, 
Mozambique  Green Resources 
USD Scalable 
enterprises  Forestry and 
logging       570 672 972            560 766 539  Equity/Mezzanine 
Loan 2009 
Zambia, Zimbabwe, 
Uganda  Lake Harvest Group  Scalable 
enterprises  Fishing and 
aquaculture           1 355 220            117 043 199  Mezzanine Loan  2013 
Ethiopia  Marginpar Group  Scalable 
enterprises  Crop/animal 
production,           4 097 779            114 666 322  Equity  2018 
Mozambique  Neofresh  Scalable 
enterprises  hunting and related         16 560 530              73 416 228  Loan/Mezzanine 
Loan 2017 
Tanzania  Vertical Agro 
(Sunripe & 
Serengeti Fresh)  Scalable 
enterprises  service activities              248 318              51 845 349  Mezzanine Loan  2014   
  IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
- 9 - Table 5 : Norfund 's disbursements to Clean energy. Figures in NOK  
  Country  Investee  Department  Sector  Disbursement  Total 
commitment  Type of 
capital  Initial 
year 
Sierra Leone, Liberia  ESCOTEL  Clean Energy  Solar power  80 714 700     92 737 554  Equity/Loan  2020 
Burundi, Uganda  Evolution Fund 
II (Through KNI)  Clean Energy  Energy  1 624 362  130 455 701  Funds  2019 
Madagascar, Mali, Guinea -Bissau, Gambia, 
Uganda, Senegal, Benin, Rwanda, Malawi, DR 
Congo, Sierra Leone, Mozambique, Burundi, 
Zambia, Lesotho, Tanzania, Mauritania, 
Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Guinea  FEI - Facility for 
Energy Inclusion  Clean Energy  Investment 
funds  2 107 617  170 817 226  Funds  2019 
Myanmar, Tanzania, Uganda  Greenlight 
Planet  Clean Energy  Solar power   22 160 620     91 725 450  Loan 2019 
Ethiopia, Chad, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Burkina 
Faso, Uganda  ICCF Clean Energy  Energy   12 427 280   355 156 143  Loan 2010 
Senegal, Mozambique  Metier 
Sustainable 
Capital Fund II  Clean Energy  Energy   2 138 252  170 941 784  Funds  2019 
Uganda  M-Kopa Clean Energy  Solar power  2 574 509  97 056 328  Loan 2017 
Laos Nam Sim  Clean Energy  Hydropower  1 229 124  31 528 384  Loan 2011 
Zambia  New Africa 
Power  Clean Energy  Hydropower  635 604  15 778 501  Equity  2017 
Guinea, Malawi, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Uganda, 
Zambia  rAREH  Clean Energy  Hydropower      44 153 841    272 772 602  Equity  2017 
Uganda  responsAbility 
ACPF Clean Energy  Energy        2 056 841   103 054 561  Funds  2019 
Cambodia, Bangladesh  Schneider 
Electric Energy 
Access Asia  Clean Energy  Energy        2 868 104    65 971 004  Funds  2019 
Madagascar, Mali  WeLight  Clean Energy  Energy      18 217 094     46 836 150  Equity/Loan  2019   
  IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
- 10 - Table 6: Norfund 's disbursements to Financial institutions. Figures in NOK  
Country  Investee  Department  Sector  Disbursement  Total commitment  Type of capital  Initial 
year 
Malawi, Madagascar, 
Tanzania, 
Mozambique, 
Zimbabwe, Rwanda, 
Angola, Zambia  AfricInvest  
Financial 
Inclusion Vehicle 
(FIVE)  Financial Institutions  Banking  17 147 954   178 553 298  Equity  2018 
Uganda, Rwanda, 
Tanzania, Mali, 
Zimbabwe, 
Mozambique, 
Zambia, Burkina 
Faso, Benin, Togo, 
Senegal  Arise B.V.  Financial Institutions  Banking  33 945 666  2 804 453 719  Equity  2016 
Haiti CIFI Financial Institutions  Other fin. services  5 276 400  329 497 400  Loan 2004 
Cambodia  First Finance Plc.  Financial Institutions  Microfinance  19 353 800  34 076 696  Loan 2013 
Cambodia  LOLC (Cambodia) 
PLC. Financial Institutions  Microfinance  95 571 000  85 326 000  Loan 2020 
Cambodia, Rwanda, 
Uganda, Zambia, 
Senegal  NMI Fund IV  Financial Institutions  Microfinance  23 760 000  216 000 000  Funds  2018 
Mozambique, Burkina 
Faso, Togo, Mali, 
Benin, Zimbabwe, 
Uganda, Senegal, 
Tanzania, Zambia, 
Rwanda  Norfinance AS  Financial Institutions  Banking  7 555 153  483 061 340  Equity  2013 
Cambodia  Sathapana  Financial Institutions  Banking  136 957 500  62 119 400  Subordinate Loan  2008 
Myanmar  Yoma Bank 
Limited  Financial Institutions  Banking  294 979 258  294 979 258  Equity  2019 IP/C/R/TTI/NOR/2  
 
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  For further information and details, please contact:  
 
Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad)  
Department for Private Sector Development  
P.O. Box 8034 Dep., N -0030 Oslo, Norway  
Tel: +47 23 98 00 00  
Email: postmottak@norad.no  
Website: www.norad .no 
 
 
Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund)  
P.O. Box 1280 Vika,  
N-0111 Oslo, Norway  
Tel: +47 22 01 93 93  
Fax: +47 22 01 93 94  
Email: post@norfund.no  
Website: www.norfund.no  
 
 
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