Nordic Cultural and Commercial Houses Receives Support From Nordic Innovation

Oslo, Norway, October 30, 2015 (Newswire.com) - ​The Nordic Cultural and Commercial Houses (NCCH) project has received support from Nordic Innovation. The project is recommending co-locating Nordic diplomatic functions and Nordic businesses in emerging markets, and establishing showcases for Nordic best practice in clean tech, urban planning and design.

Represented by the five Nordic countries - Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden - the vision of the NCCH is to link the Nordic countries to the world’s emerging markets, while simultaneously identifying collaborations between one another. The Nordic Cultural and Commercial Houses will be landmark buildings in key growth cities around the world that include office and living space, all while showcasing Nordic culture. They could potentially contain schools and kindergartens, as well.

“It’s quite clear that different Nordic businesses with activities in emerging markets see a value in a closer cooperation between the Nordic countries in these markets,” says managing director of Nordic Innovation, Roger Bjørgan. “The concept of NCCH could help realise these synergies, while strengthening the Nordic brand to the benefit of the Nordic countries and businesses throughout”

After discussion with the Nordic Ministries of Foreign Affairs, private sector organisations and potential investors, the decision to join forces with Nordic Innovation was made. It was agreed that in order for the project to work, the next steps would test a tangible case that would reveal the strength of the business plan and the political support from the Nordic co-operation.

“Besides the branding value of establishing Nordic landmark buildings in emerging markets, as well as the opportunity to create synergies between Nordic diplomatic representations, NCCH is also in line with Nordic Innovation key priorities” says communication manager at Nordic Innovation, Bárdur Örn Gunnarsson.

From a shortlist of ten cities, Jakarta, Indonesia, was chosen as the test case, being high on the priority list for both the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and large Nordic companies who will ultimately rent space in the buildings.

As declared in a joint statement, Foreign Ministers from the Nordic countries are confident with the Nordic beacon and already looking beyond Jakarta: “We would like to see more Nordic co-locations, and we look positively at continuing the work to clarify the conditions for the Nordic Cultural and Commercial Houses”

Aligned with Nordic Innovation’s key priorities with initiatives in creative industries, #NordicMade, and efforts of setting up soft landing zones for Nordic companies, the NCCH buildings themselves will be living testaments to Nordic best practice, fitting seamlessly with the Nordic Built Cities lighthouse project. Lastly, the project paves the way for new types of public private partnerships across the Nordic region and developing new innovative financing models.

Contact:
Bardur Orn Gunnarsson
Director of Communications
Nordic Innovation
Stensberggata 25 | NO-0170 Oslo
+47-47225432
b.gunnarsson@nordicinnovation.org