Stavanger mayor Christine Sagen Helgø ( Conservative Party ) wants to turn challenges in the oil industry into opportunities for the Stavanger region.
Restructuring in the Norwegian economy is one of the main themes of the national convention of the Conservative party this weekend.
– Having a sector that is so dominant, makes us very vulnerable, Minister of Trade Monica Mæland (H) acknowledged when speaking about the downturn in the oil industry. But she also stressed that the picture is varied.
– Traditional export industries and tourism is doing well, we export more fish than ever. We have also initiated a historic investment in infrastructure, said Mæland.
think again
In the Stavanger region the unemployment rate is nearly 5 percent, and for young people aged 20-24 years it is at 8.8 per cent. This raises concerns for the Stavanger mayor Christine Sagen Helgø, who emphasised that the region have to look at new areas of development in the times ahead.
– Restructuring is demanding, it takes time. But the Stavanger region should take the lead in the ongoing restructuring process in Norway, she said to the congress.
Source: NTB scanpix /
