Country Profile, Norway
Update April 2009 COUNTRY PROFILE, NORWAY Introduction and Country Background 2 Banking Environment 4 Financial Authorities 6 Legal & Regulatory Issues 8 Market Dominant Banks 11 Clearing Systems 14 Payments & Collections Methods & Instruments 16 Electronic Banking 19 Cash Pooling Solutions 21 Tax Issues 23 Source and Contacts 28 Page 1 of 28 Country profile, Norway Introduction and Country Background Norway’s rugged Key Facts coastline facing the North Atlantic sea Capital - Major Cities Oslo – Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger stretches over 2,500 Area 324,220 km2 km Population 4.799 million (01-2009 estimate) Languages Norwegian Currency NOK (Norwegian Kroner) Telephone Code +47 National/ Bank 2009 — 1 Jan; 9-10, 13 Apr; 1, 17, 21 May; 1 Jun; 25- Holidays 26 Dec Bank Hours Generally from 8:15–15:30 Mon-Fri* Business Hours 10.00–17.00 Mon–Fri, to 19.00 Thu, 9:00–14.00 Sat Stock Exchange Oslo Børs (Oslo Stock Exchange) Leading Share Index OSEBX Overall Share Index OSEAX There is usually a designated day during the week when business hours are ex- tended. However, this day varies from bank to bank. Measured by per cap- Economic Performance ita GDP, Norway is among the wealthiest 2005 2006 2007 2008 countries in the Exchange Rate – NOK/EUR1 8.00 8.05 8.0153 8.2194 world, supported in Exchange Rate – NOK/USD1 6.4450 6.4180 5.8600 5.6361 large part by its ex- Money Market Rate (%)1 2.15 3.02 4.79 6.01 ploitation of oil and Consumer Inflation (%)2 1.6 2.3 0.8 3.2 gas reserves Unemployment Rate (%)3 4.6 3.4 2.5 2.5 GDP (NOK billions)4 1,946 1,995
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