natgillin/translations-raw huggingface dataset:
And then there is Statoil – with a presence here since many years – ready and able to engage with KazMunai to develop new opportunities – we truly support this endeavour and hope that a strategic partnership will be developed.
And then there is Statoil – with a presence here since many years – ready and able to engage with KazMunai to develop new opportunities – we truly support this endeavour and hope that a strategic partnership will be developed.
We have combined participation of international companies with a strong focus on national control over our natural resources and value creation.
We have combined participation of international companies with a strong focus on national control over our natural resources and value creation.
This has benefited both the development of the petroleum sector and the development of the Norwegian society at large.
This has benefited both the development of the petroleum sector and the development of the Norwegian society at large.
Our approach has kept the industry in the driving seat when it comes to commercial decisions, with the government setting efficient framework conditions.
Our approach has kept the industry in the driving seat when it comes to commercial decisions, with the government setting efficient framework conditions.
Norway is keen to work with the Kazakh Government and business sector in supporting the development in Kazakhstan.
Norway is keen to work with the Kazakh Government and business sector in supporting the development in Kazakhstan.
I am certain that Norwegian companies can be a driving force for an exciting relationship.
I am certain that Norwegian companies can be a driving force for an exciting relationship.
Some of them are here today, eager to engage in Kazakhstan on the basis of their expertise, investments and experience.
Some of them are here today, eager to engage in Kazakhstan on the basis of their expertise, investments and experience.
Why are business relations so important?
Why are business relations so important?
Because when companies with different experience interact, there is potential for more value creation than would have been the case if they had worked in isolation.
Because when companies with different experience interact, there is potential for more value creation than would have been the case if they had worked in isolation.
And this is my main message here today.
And this is my main message here today.
Our two countries will benifit from exhanging experiences.
Our two countries will benifit from exhanging experiences.
Through our own experience we have developed expertise and know-how.
Through our own experience we have developed expertise and know-how.
And this know-how may be useful for development here in Kazakhstan.
And this know-how may be useful for development here in Kazakhstan.
Wherever they operate, Norwegian companies are expected to demonstrate corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Wherever they operate, Norwegian companies are expected to demonstrate corporate social responsibility (CSR).
Let me share with you a few thoughts about the Norwegian Government’s approach to CSR.
Let me share with you a few thoughts about the Norwegian Government’s approach to CSR.
Earlier this year, my Government presented a White paper on CSR to the Norwegian parliament, setting out a comprehensive approach to this policy area.
Earlier this year, my Government presented a White paper on CSR to the Norwegian parliament, setting out a comprehensive approach to this policy area.
The paper was developed in close cooperation with the social partners.
The paper was developed in close cooperation with the social partners.
Through this tripartite dialogue – between authorities, industry and civil society – we have put corporate social responsibility at the heart of our business’ code of conduct.
Through this tripartite dialogue – between authorities, industry and civil society – we have put corporate social responsibility at the heart of our business’ code of conduct.
A number of leading Norwegian companies, including those present here in Kazakhstan, have integrated CSR into their operations and decision-making processes.
A number of leading Norwegian companies, including those present here in Kazakhstan, have integrated CSR into their operations and decision-making processes.
They seek to safeguard not only their economic interests, but also the interests of the country they are operating in – at both local and national level – by engaging in various beneficial projects – with local content – developing local capacities and capabilities.
They seek to safeguard not only their economic interests, but also the interests of the country they are operating in – at both local and national level – by engaging in various beneficial projects – with local content – developing local capacities and capabilities.
Another factor that is relevant in this context is corruption.
Another factor that is relevant in this context is corruption.
The Norwegian Government expects Norwegian companies to refuse to accept corruption anywhere in the world.
The Norwegian Government expects Norwegian companies to refuse to accept corruption anywhere in the world.
Companies headquartered in Norway must comply with Norwegian anti-corruption legislation as well as the legislation of the host country.
Companies headquartered in Norway must comply with Norwegian anti-corruption legislation as well as the legislation of the host country.
It is encouraging to see that Kazakhstan is seeking to make its petroleum fully transparent through its engagement in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
It is encouraging to see that Kazakhstan is seeking to make its petroleum fully transparent through its engagement in the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI).
I would like to commend Kazakhstan on these efforts, and I understand that you are approaching the end of your validation process.
I would like to commend Kazakhstan on these efforts, and I understand that you are approaching the end of your validation process.
Norway for its part is currently implementing the EITI criteria.
Norway for its part is currently implementing the EITI criteria.
We believe that they are crucial for combating corruption and bringing full openness into the extractive industry.
We believe that they are crucial for combating corruption and bringing full openness into the extractive industry.
In conclusion, Norwegian companies’ experience can be of particular value to the development of the Kazakh energy sector on the following four points:
In conclusion, Norwegian companies’ experience can be of particular value to the development of the Kazakh energy sector on the following four points:
First, their extensive expertise, technology and management experience from 40 successful years of oil and gas recovery on the Norwegian continental shelf.
First, their extensive expertise, technology and management experience from 40 successful years of oil and gas recovery on the Norwegian continental shelf.
Second, their experience of long-term cooperation with host country partners and subcontractors in order to optimise local content and contribute to economic growth.
Second, their experience of long-term cooperation with host country partners and subcontractors in order to optimise local content and contribute to economic growth.
Third, their experience of effective clean-up of waste and addressing environmental impact.
Third, their experience of effective clean-up of waste and addressing environmental impact.
And fourth, their experience of cooperation with regard to how and why CSR matters, including valuable input from trade unions and civil society.
And fourth, their experience of cooperation with regard to how and why CSR matters, including valuable input from trade unions and civil society.
We have high hopes for future cooperation between Norway and Kazakhstan, and I believe that Norwegian companies can play a key role.
We have high hopes for future cooperation between Norway and Kazakhstan, and I believe that Norwegian companies can play a key role.
As I have mentioned, Norway would be happy to continue to share our experience in the energy sector.
As I have mentioned, Norway would be happy to continue to share our experience in the energy sector.
We are very pleased that the bilateral energy group will meet later today, headed by our two countries’ deputy energy ministers.
We are very pleased that the bilateral energy group will meet later today, headed by our two countries’ deputy energy ministers.
I look forward to an ever closer dialogue with the Government of Kazakhstan on these and many other issues.
I look forward to an ever closer dialogue with the Government of Kazakhstan on these and many other issues.
HRH The Crown Prince opened Norwegian Embassy in Kazakhstan
Kronprinsen åpnet norsk ambassade i Kasakhstan
“The merger will help to maintain Norway’s status as a leading maritime nation,” says Mr Giske.
-Sammenslåingen er et bidrag for å opprettholde Norge som en ledende maritim nasjon, sier Trond Giske.
The Minister of Trade and Industry emphasises that this is a merger, not a co-location.
Nærings- og handelsministeren understreker at det er tale om en sammenslåing, ikke en samlokalisering.
“After the merger,” says Mr Giske, “the Norwegian Ship Registers will remain situated in Bergen, but as a unit within the new maritime administration.
-Skipsregistrene skal etter en sammenslåing fortsatt være lokalisert i Bergen, men da som en enhet i den nye sjøfartsadministrasjonen.
The Norwegian Ship Registers currently comprises a strong professional environment staffed with competent employees.”
Skipsregistrene har i dag kompetente medarbeidere og et sterkt faglig miljø, sier Giske.
The working group submitted its status report on 1 November 2010 in accordance with its mandate.
Den leverte en statusrapport 1. november 2010, i henhold til sitt mandat.
The merger will take effect from 1 January 2012.
Sammenslåingen skal skje fra 1. januar 2012.
Oslo, 25 February 2013
Oslo, 25. februar 2013
"Obviously we feel we have a special relationship to EITI with our early and strong support, our own implementation of the initiative, and not least the secretariat being located here", said Minister of International Development Heikki Eidsvoll Holmås in his keynote speech at the EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) seminar in Oslo.
- Obviously we feel we have a special relationship to EITI with our early and strong support, our own implementation of the initiative, and not least the secretariat being located here, sa utviklingsminister Heikki Eidsvoll Holmås i sitt innlegg på åpenhetsseminaret hos EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative).
Good morning, everyone.
Good morning, everyone.
It’s a pleasure to welcome you to Oslo.
It’s a pleasure to welcome you to Oslo.
I believe it’s the third time the EITI Board meets in Oslo, and we hosted the 2006 EITI Global Conference.
I believe it’s the third time the EITI Board meets in Oslo, and we hosted the 2006 EITI Global Conference.
Obviously we feel we have a special relationship to EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) with our early and strong support, our own implementation of the initiative, and not least the secretariat being located here.
Obviously we feel we have a special relationship to EITI (Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative) with our early and strong support, our own implementation of the initiative, and not least the secretariat being located here.
The extractive sector is central to our national economy and to our development policies through initiatives such as our Oil for Development programme.
The extractive sector is central to our national economy and to our development policies through initiatives such as our Oil for Development programme.
There is an important Board Meeting tomorrow and Wednesday, but today we have the opportunity, perhaps, to be a little bit more philosophical and unrestricted in our conversation.
There is an important Board Meeting tomorrow and Wednesday, but today we have the opportunity, perhaps, to be a little bit more philosophical and unrestricted in our conversation.
Sometimes we need to stop, take stock and maybe even adjust the course.
Sometimes we need to stop, take stock and maybe even adjust the course.
This seminar is an opportunity to debate broadly and vent ideas.
This seminar is an opportunity to debate broadly and vent ideas.
Soon my government will present a White Paper on Inequality and Inclusive Growth, and I tend to see everything in that light these days.
Soon my government will present a White Paper on Inequality and Inclusive Growth, and I tend to see everything in that light these days.
Good governance in the extractive sector is a major part of our policy to reduce inequality.
Good governance in the extractive sector is a major part of our policy to reduce inequality.
As shown by the “the resource curse” revenue from natural resources may easily end up benefitting only the few.
As shown by the “the resource curse” revenue from natural resources may easily end up benefitting only the few.
Experience from the extractive sector exemplifies why transparency is important and why tax policy matters.
Experience from the extractive sector exemplifies why transparency is important and why tax policy matters.
We will continue to give extractives and transparency the highest priority, and I hope that with the White Paper we’ll get full political support to new initiatives that aim to increase transparency.
We will continue to give extractives and transparency the highest priority, and I hope that with the White Paper we’ll get full political support to new initiatives that aim to increase transparency.
And lately we have seen an unprecedented drive for transparency; the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, the draft EU Directives on country-by-country reporting, a new EITI standard, the Open Government Partnership, countries deciding to embrace transparency are all initiatives that should help increase transparency.
And lately we have seen an unprecedented drive for transparency; the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act, the draft EU Directives on country-by-country reporting, a new EITI standard, the Open Government Partnership, countries deciding to embrace transparency are all initiatives that should help increase transparency.
These initiatives will generate new information, new data.
These initiatives will generate new information, new data.
While we’re not fully sure what this transparency and the new data will bring, it’s quite clear it’s a major shift.
While we’re not fully sure what this transparency and the new data will bring, it’s quite clear it’s a major shift.
There will be more information from contracts, there will be more data on production and payments, and there should be better access to public records etc.
There will be more information from contracts, there will be more data on production and payments, and there should be better access to public records etc.
So what do we do with the new data?
So what do we do with the new data?
Can we make proper use of it, or will we drown in information?
Can we make proper use of it, or will we drown in information?
As you are well aware of from the EITI, making sense of large amounts of often very technical information is a challenge.
As you are well aware of from the EITI, making sense of large amounts of often very technical information is a challenge.
I hope you will help answer these questions.
I hope you will help answer these questions.
The media and civil society are major users of information.
The media and civil society are major users of information.
Watchdogs depend upon it to serve their function.
Watchdogs depend upon it to serve their function.
Investors will normally be interested in as much information as possible to back their investment decisions.
Investors will normally be interested in as much information as possible to back their investment decisions.
And sometimes it is not the substance of the reporting that is of importance, but rather the disciplinary effect of transparency itself.
And sometimes it is not the substance of the reporting that is of importance, but rather the disciplinary effect of transparency itself.
In many respects, transparency is the answer.
In many respects, transparency is the answer.
Transparency is the most practical and effective way to combat corruption and ensure integrity.
Transparency is the most practical and effective way to combat corruption and ensure integrity.
Transparency makes economic sense for the resource-rich country and its citizens, for the investor, for the clean company, for almost everyone.
Transparency makes economic sense for the resource-rich country and its citizens, for the investor, for the clean company, for almost everyone.
It doesn’t make sense for the companies that can’t compete on a level playing field – and their corrupt accomplices.
It doesn’t make sense for the companies that can’t compete on a level playing field – and their corrupt accomplices.
Transparency often doesn’t cost anything, and is much simpler than attempting to regulate a problem or enforce a particular policy.
Transparency often doesn’t cost anything, and is much simpler than attempting to regulate a problem or enforce a particular policy.
With the new reporting requirements, and with more contract transparency, I think we can safely assume it will be more difficult to bribe and to agree on a corrupt deal.
With the new reporting requirements, and with more contract transparency, I think we can safely assume it will be more difficult to bribe and to agree on a corrupt deal.
But what about tax evasion?
But what about tax evasion?
Information about taxes paid and revenues received is not sufficient to determine whether the correct amount has been paid.
Information about taxes paid and revenues received is not sufficient to determine whether the correct amount has been paid.
We would need more accounting information for that.
We would need more accounting information for that.
The revenue and profit of a multinational company can be manipulated for tax purposes – legally or illegally – in many ways.
The revenue and profit of a multinational company can be manipulated for tax purposes – legally or illegally – in many ways.
The less transparent and accessible the information is, the easier it becomes.
The less transparent and accessible the information is, the easier it becomes.
The type of accounting or activity data that would come through what is called “country-by-country reporting”, and that Publish What You Pay, Norway has called extended country-by-country, would be necessary to determine whether the right amount of tax is being paid under a project.
The type of accounting or activity data that would come through what is called “country-by-country reporting”, and that Publish What You Pay, Norway has called extended country-by-country, would be necessary to determine whether the right amount of tax is being paid under a project.
So, if Dodd-Frank and the new EU Directive cannot provide that information, then there is a case for arguing we still need more.
So, if Dodd-Frank and the new EU Directive cannot provide that information, then there is a case for arguing we still need more.
For fairness in application, this type of extended reporting would ideally be agreed at the international level.
For fairness in application, this type of extended reporting would ideally be agreed at the international level.
Norway will continue to work for reporting systems and accounting standards where curtailing tax evasion is a major objective.
Norway will continue to work for reporting systems and accounting standards where curtailing tax evasion is a major objective.
And there might be measures that can be undertaken at the national level, too.
And there might be measures that can be undertaken at the national level, too.
We are considering the development of what we call “the Transparency Guarantee”.
We are considering the development of what we call “the Transparency Guarantee”.
The intention of the guarantee is to secure, through the contract in an extractive project, the access of national authorities to the information needed to tax the company appropriately.
The intention of the guarantee is to secure, through the contract in an extractive project, the access of national authorities to the information needed to tax the company appropriately.
That would mean full access to info on transactions undertaken as part of the project, including cross-border for complicated company structures.
That would mean full access to info on transactions undertaken as part of the project, including cross-border for complicated company structures.
The situation today is that the extremely scarce capacity of tax auditors in a poor country is often used to chase company accounting and transaction information that is not forthcoming.
The situation today is that the extremely scarce capacity of tax auditors in a poor country is often used to chase company accounting and transaction information that is not forthcoming.
The valuable time of a tax auditor should rather be spent analysing that information.
The valuable time of a tax auditor should rather be spent analysing that information.
Extractive contracts, on the whole, are something I’m very preoccupied with.
Extractive contracts, on the whole, are something I’m very preoccupied with.
I happy to say that Norway as part of the new EITI-standard supports the public disclosure of contracts, with the necessary redaction of commercially sensitive information.
I happy to say that Norway as part of the new EITI-standard supports the public disclosure of contracts, with the necessary redaction of commercially sensitive information.
Full disclosure of extractive contracts is now standard procedure in many countries, with Guinea perhaps the last to join that group, publishing mining contracts online.
Full disclosure of extractive contracts is now standard procedure in many countries, with Guinea perhaps the last to join that group, publishing mining contracts online.
Guinea is interesting for another reason – having recently decided to review its mining contracts.
Guinea is interesting for another reason – having recently decided to review its mining contracts.
If such a review, or similar reviews, were to find that there is reason to seek renegotiation of unfair or improper contracts, there should ideally be a mechanism in place to help support such a process.
If such a review, or similar reviews, were to find that there is reason to seek renegotiation of unfair or improper contracts, there should ideally be a mechanism in place to help support such a process.
Norway will consider backing initiatives in this area.
Norway will consider backing initiatives in this area.
Finally, a word on “moderation”.
Finally, a word on “moderation”.
Many companies today are faced with multiple reporting requirements and demands for information.
Many companies today are faced with multiple reporting requirements and demands for information.
There will always be a good cause that someone wants all companies to relate to and report on, whether it’s financials, environmental issues, gender, human rights, labour issues, CSR etc.
There will always be a good cause that someone wants all companies to relate to and report on, whether it’s financials, environmental issues, gender, human rights, labour issues, CSR etc.
Much of the reporting will require systems of communication, establishment of routines and procedures, new software.
Much of the reporting will require systems of communication, establishment of routines and procedures, new software.
In short, time and resources for the company.
In short, time and resources for the company.
Sometimes, as with contract transparency, there’s no direct cost at all to the company.
Sometimes, as with contract transparency, there’s no direct cost at all to the company.
Various types of reporting, however, will have costs associated.
Various types of reporting, however, will have costs associated.
We need to acknowledge this and make sure reporting requirements are sensible, necessary, and manageable.
We need to acknowledge this and make sure reporting requirements are sensible, necessary, and manageable.