WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  IP/C/W/480/Add.4 
13 October 2006 
 
 (06-4941) 
Council for Trade-Related Aspects 
of Intellectual Property Rights Original:  English 
 
 
IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 66.2 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT: 
INFORMATION FROM DEVELOPED COUNTRY MEMBERS 
 
NORWAY 
 
Addendum  
   The following communication, dated 6 Oct ober 2006, from the Delegation of Norway is 
being circulated pursuant to paragraph 1 of the Decision on Implementation of Article 66.2 of the 
TRIPS Agreement. 
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I. INTRODUCTION 
1. Article 66.2 of the TRIPS Agreement requi res "developed country Members to provide 
incentives to enterprises and ins titutions in their territories for the purpose of promoting and 
encouraging technology transfer to least-developed co untry Members in order to enable them to create 
a sound and viable technological base".  The present note provides an update of the relevant facilities 
provided by the Norwegian Agency for Devel opment Cooperation (Norad) and the Norwegian 
Investment Fund for Developing Countries (Norfund). 
 
2. Least-developed countries are eligible fo r Norad and Norfund incentive schemes along with 
other developing countries with a GDP per capita  of less than US$5,295 in accordance with the 
threshold for the World Bank's concessional financ ing.  In 2005, approxi mately US$38 million was 
provided to (mainly) least-develope d countries through these programmes. 
 II. THE NORWEGIAN AGENCY FOR DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION (NORAD) 
3. Norad provides incentives for technology transfer to developing countries, including 
least-developed countries, through (1) its faciliti es for investment support, (2) its financing 
mechanisms for import to developing countries, and (3) support to expor t related activities in 
developing countries.  Priority is given to least de veloped countries and Norway's partner countries.   
 
4. The purpose of the Norad facilities for investment  support is to encourage firms to invest in 
developing countries, including least-developed c ountries.  The facilities promote cooperation, 
including cooperation relating to transfer of tech nology, through the support of feasibility studies for 
establishing joint ventures or foreign subsidiari es, training in order to strengthen the local 
management of joint ventures or companies that are owned wholly or partially by one or more foreign 
companies and investments in basic environmental infrastructure.   
5. The purpose of the financing arrangemen ts for export of capital goods, technology and 
services is to promote transfer of technology more directly.  They include support for training in connection with export, untied mixed credits, export credit guarantees (through the Norwegian IP/C/W/480/Add.4 
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  Institute for Export Guarantees).  Special training arrangements in connection with such export to 
developing countries are often necessary to ensure an  effective transfer of technology and the proper 
operation and maintenance of machines and equipment.   
6. The purpose of supporting export related proj ects is to strengthen the countries' export 
potential and to facilitate trade by assisting in build ing institutional and nationa l capacities i.a. relating 
to standards, metrology, testing and quality.  Norad has, and is supporting several regional and 
national programmes leading to international rec ognition and acceptance of certification systems, both 
on multi-bi basis as well as bilaterally.  Some of these programmes also include financing of testing 
laboratories both for food export and particular industr ial goods.  Assistance is also given to exporters 
in developing countries and to de velopment of quality and design of products in order to meet 
international marked requirements. 
 
III. NORWEGIAN INVESTMENT FUND FOR DEVELOPING COUNTRIES 
(NORFUND) 
7. The purpose of Norfund is to promote private-sector development in developing countries by 
providing risk capital and expertise.  Norfund support s the realization of viable commercial projects, 
which balance economic, social and environmental co nsiderations, by investing in private enterprises 
and promoting business development in these countries.   The objective is that one-third of Norfund's 
total investments shall be made in the least developed countries.  8. Norfund's three main strategies are direct investments, investments in local funds and 
financial institutions.  These forms of investments provide incentives for the transfer of technology.  
Norfund is also engaged in management of local i nvestment funds in many developing countries, and 
has i.a. established a joint venture with Statkraft, Norway's largest producer of electric power, 
investing in the energy sector in developing countri es.  This joint venture, called Statkraft Norfund 
Power Invest, contributes to the transfer of technology and management capabilities to 
least-developed countries through a number of project s, such as the Khimti Hydroelectric Project in 
Nepal and the Theun Hinboun Hydroelectric Pr oject in Lao People's Democratic Republic. 
 9. Norfund's direct investments are made jointl y with private companies, often in cooperation 
with local partners in developing countries.  Inv estments in local investment funds provide a capital 
base to a local fund, which in turn invests in sever al local companies.  Investments in and loans to 
banks and financial institutions help create more su stainable local capital markets that give small and 
medium-sized enterprises better access to financi ng.  Norfund is actively contributing to the success 
of investment projects initiated by private compani es by providing risk capital, contacts and expertise 
on business and markets in developing countries.  No rfund requires the investment to be sponsored by 
a reputable business partner and a business plan must demonstrate the presence of a profitable 
investment opportunity, a market, expertise and the awareness of environmental and social 
considerations.  Norfund injects equity or quasi-e quity capital, less than or equal to the amount 
invested by the private company, and its commit ments are based on shared risk, not subsidies. 
  For further details concerning the above- mentioned incentive schemes, please contact: 
 
  Norwegian Agency for Development Co-operation (Norad) 
  Department for Private Sector Development   P.O. Box 8034 Dep., N-0030 Oslo, Norway   Tel:  +47 22 24 20 30   Fax:   +47 22 24 20 31 
  E-mail:  postmottak@norad.no 
  Website:  www.norad.no   IP/C/W/480/Add.4 
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   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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