The Royal Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry (Norwegian: Nærings- og handelsdepartementet) was a Norwegian ministry responsible for business, trade and industry.
It was first created in 1916, as the Ministry of Trade (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Shipping and Industry). It took its final name in 1997. The department must report to the legislature, Storting.
On 1 January 2014, the ministry was dissolved and the minister portfolio was incorporated into the new Ministry of Trade, Industry and Fisheries.
Contents
History
Responsibilities for trade and industry was originally established in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Shipping and Industry in 1903. It was not until 1916 where a separate ministry was formed, as the previous ministry was focused on social affairs. After this, the ministry underwent several name changes as a result of transfers of responsibilities.
1 January 1903–1 December 1905: Ministry of Trade (Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade, Shipping and Industry)
1 December 1905–1 July 1913: Ministry of Trade (Ministry of Trade, Shipping and Industry)
1 July 1913–1 October 1916: Ministry of Social Affairs (Ministry of Social Affairs, Trade, Industry and Fisheries)
1 October 1916–6 December 1947: Ministry of Trade (Ministry of Trade, Shipping, Industry, Craft and Fisheries)
6 December 1947–1 January 1955: Ministry of Industry (Ministry of Industry, Craft and Shipping) (see Ministry of Trade and Shipping)
1 January 1955–1 January 1988: Ministry of Industry (Ministry of Industry and Craft)
1 January 1988–1 January 1993: Ministry of Industry
1 January 1993–1 January 1997: Ministry of Industry and Energy (see Ministry of Petroleum and Energy)
1 January 1997–31 December 2013: Ministry of Trade and Industry
Organisation
Departments
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has six departments. The Press and Communications Division is part of the Secretary General's staff.
The Ministry is headed by the Minister of Trade and Industry. The other political staff consists of three State Secretaries and one Political Advisor.
The ministry is divided into the following sections:
Information section
Department of Planning, Administration and Economic affairs
Department of Ownership
Department of Trade and Industrial Economics
Department of Research and Innovation Politics
Department of Regulations and Shipping
Department of Entrepreneurship and Internationalization
Subsidiaries
Subordinate government agencies:
Brønnøysund Register Centre
Guarantee Institute for Export Credits
Norwegian Accreditation
Norwegian Directorate of Mining with the Commissioner of Mines at Svalbard
Norwegian Maritime Directorate
Norwegian Metrology Service
Norwegian Geological Survey
Norwegian Patent Office
Norwegian Ship Registers
Norwegian Space Centre
Other agencies associated with the department:
BEDIN
Euro Info Centre
Industrial Development Corporation of Norway
Innovation Norway
Master Craftsman Committee
Norwegian Design Council
Norwegian Export Credit Agency
The Research Council of Norway
Standards Norway
Wholly owned limited companies:
Argentum Fondsinvesteringer