NORDEA BANK PRESENTS A GUIDE TO OSLO GUIDE TO OSLO TO GUIDE ANNUAL REPORT OF JSC NORDEA BANK 2015 GUIDE TO OSLO JSC Nordea Bank 2015 Annual Report DEAR FRIENDS, I am delighted to present Nordea Bank Russia’s Annual Report 2015 introducing Oslo, the capital of Norway. It is the fourth one in the annual series of travel guides issued by the Bank. However, this report is the first one I open in the capacity of CEO. Upon taking the office after 12 years with the Bank’s Executive Board, I was interviewed for the company website and questioned on my biggest challenge as the new CEO. My answer was the need to change myself. Looking back later, I real- ized that any employee at the Bank could have given the same answer. Any manager, any employee of any company, and many others besides would acknowledge that the last year made them change a lot. Back in 2014, we faced a lot of unexpected challenges. Things appeared both complicated and uncertain. We realized that the economic turbulence in the global and domestic markets would be long-term, and we began searching for new ap- proaches that would help us adapt to that reality. By 2015, we had a clear vision: what to do, what to change, and how to do it. We learned how to manage the changes we saw before us. First, we decided to continuously improve our own efficiency by focusing on customers, business and internal process- es and assess all our activities from this perspective. Second, we wanted to have a stronger and deeper focus on risk man- agement to ensure robust and stable performance. Third, we agreed to further promote relationships with our key custom- ers — domestic and international companies operating in the Russian market — and remain their trusted partner. And, of course, we knew that we needed to take care of our employees, to motivate them, and to stay open and fair even in this challenging environment. These targets have helped us to deliver efficiently this year, accomplishing everything we had planned and achieving all of our goals. I would like to thank all our customers for staying with us, and all my colleagues for working as one effective team. Today, we once again invite you to make a trip to the north and enjoy its incredible nature, rich history and culture, deli- cious cuisine and ancient traditions. I hope that this new travel guide by Nordea Bank Russia will contribute to your un- forgettable journey to Norway. Best regards, Mikhail Polyakov, CEO, Nordea Bank Russia 3 n A B w e 51 s 76 OSLO 1 contents 65 33 33 6 36 64 11 28 HISTORY AND CULTURE 32 27 2 40 76 22 68 76 45 71 72 MUSEUMS 9 39 41 63 42 77 37 12 56 67 69 WALKS AND ENTERTAINMENT 69 57 60 55 40 57 48 46 31 29 54 43 3 RESTAURANTS AND CAFÉS 24 49 24 70 23 25 SHOPPING 78 61 47 NIGHTLIFE 4 17 94 52 ABOUT THE BANK A B 49 C D E 51 76 1 65 33 33 36 64 11 28 32 27 2 40 76 68 76 45 71 72 9 39 41 77 37 63 12 56 67 69 69 57 60 55 40 57 48 46 31 29 43 3 24 49 24 23 25 61 47 17 4 52 49 C D E HISTORY AND CULTURE WHAT IS OSLO? HVA ER OSLO? [ VA AR OSLO? ] There is a Norwegian saying that goes: “a fa- vourite child has many names.” It is no sur- prise that the kingdom’s capital has changed its name three times in its thousand year his- tory: first known as Oslo, it then became Christiania, then Kristiania, and finally Oslo again. The Norwegian people planned the city in a way that allows the majestic nature of the north, valued over all else, to pene- trate right into the very centre of the cap- ital. It is only after you take a closer look amongst the mountains and fjords that you will discover a modern metropolis with a well-developed infrastructure and ample opportunities for work and leisure. With a little time, Oslo truly is a city to fall in love with. 6 ИСТОРИЯ И КУЛЬТУРА A CITY DIARY CAPITAL OF CONTRAS Travellers visiting Oslo for the first time usually can’t wait to expe- rience this unique capital city, combining the laid-back lifestyle of a small village with the fast pace of a modern metropolis. Oslo has surprisingly many facets: from quiet island life in small houses next to the water, hundreds of yachts gently swaying in the waves, to the rumble of metro trains heading for the Olympic Hill (Holmenkollen), past cows peacefully grazing at the royal farm, and the trumpets of a military orchestra marching down the main street. The dark blue fjord and the light blue sky, the green pines and the yellow sun, the red cherries and the purple sunset: in a single city there is an unlim- ited range of color to experience. www.visitoslo.com 7 ИСТОРИЯ И КУЛЬТУРА CHRONICLES OSLO BECOMES THE CAPITAL OF NORWAY Although Oslo celebrated its 1000th anniversary in 2000, hunters and fishermen settled on the shores of the Oslofjord as early as five thousand years ago as the petroglyphs found on Ekberg hill sug- gest. In 1299, the King of Norway Haakon V moved the country’s capi- tal from Bergen to Oslo and founded the Akerhus Fortress here. One hundred years later, Oslo lost its political status when Norway en- tered into a union with Denmark and Sweden, but the city still be- came an important trade port. The medieval wooden town burned down in fires several times until the Danish King Christian IV ordered for the city to be rebuilt in stone under the walls of the Akerhus For- tress in 1624. 49 The number of bells in the Eastern bell tower of Oslo’s Town Hall FIELD OF GODS In 2016 the Norwegian Parliament Building ORIGINS OF OSLO’S NAME turned 150. This is where the 169 Nor­ Researchers have long debated the origins of the name Oslo. Some wegian MPs hold believe the word means “settlement at the mouth of the river Lo.” their meetings Others insist it means a “hilly field.” A few are adamant the word Oslo means the field of ases — ases being ancient Scandinavian gods. For 300 years, the city was named after the Danish King Chris- tian IV, during whose reign it was rebuilt anew from stone and brick after the devastating fire of 1624. In 1925, when Norway was once again the capital of an independent country, the people decided to restore the original name. 8 HISTORY AND CULTURE OSLO’S PATRON SAINT THE LEGEND OF HALLVARD Oslo Town Hall enjoyed its official opening ceremony on 15 May 1950. For many years, Oslo residents have celebrated the date as Saint Hallvard’s Day. You can see images of Saint Hallvard in the main room of the Town Hall as well as on the city’s coat of arms. Legend says 21 that 1000 years ago Hallvard was trying to save a pregnant woman February is when the when her pursuers shot him with an arrow and tried to drown his national flag of Nor­ body in the fjord, attaching a heavy mill stone to his neck. His body way is raised to com­ refused to sink, but instead floated to the surface with the stone still memorate the birth­ around his neck. The spot where he was buried was believed to have day of the Norwegian healing powers, with a number of other miracles also allegedly tak- King Harald V ing place there. Saint Hallvard’s remains are now buried in the Hallva- rdskiren church in Oslo. 5С2 Rådhusplassen 1 9 HISTORY AND CULTURE KINGS AND SHIPS KONGER OG SKIP [ KONGER O SHIP ] Oslo is a city of people who are strong both in body and in spirit. The modern Norwe- gians’ ancestors, the Vikings, whose tradi- tions are honoured in Scandinavia to this day, were expert at building ships and mak- ing skis and skates. Today, even members of the ruling royal family take part and sometimes win in ski and sailing races. And it cannot be any other way as the marina is just a ten-minute walk from the Royal Pal- ace and the Olympic ski track in Holmenkol- len is half an hour by train. 10 ИСТОРИЯ И КУЛЬТУРА THE KING ON THE BALCONY RESIDENCE OF THE ROYAL FAMILY IN OSLO The royal residence in Oslo is located at 1, Palace Square. On the hill at the end of Karl Johan’s gate there stands a grand classic build- ing surrounded by a picturesque garden and ponds. It was built in the first half of the 19th century and stand behind a statue of King Karl XIV Johan. The palace garden features numerous sculptures and flower beds, white swans swim in the ponds, and royal guards decked out in parade uniforms march in front of the palace. On May 17, Constitution Day, people dress up in national costume and gath- er in front of the palace, where the king waves to them from the bal- cony. The royal family spend their summers in residence on Bygdøy peninsula. During this time the palace is open to visitors. 5С2 Slottsplassen 1 11 HISTORY AND CULTURE A CAPITAL OF GREAT NAVIGATORS NORWAY’S MAIN HARBOR Norway has faced the ocean throughout its history, with the North Sea waves feeding its people far better than its barren northern soil.