– Must learn from other regions to get a breakthrough
As a former secretary of state in the Ministry of Transport, I gained valuable first -hand experience from how different regions work to have political impact. Unfortunately, I have to note that Northern Norway is far back compared to other regions when it comes to influencing decision-making processes.
While business associations, industrial clusters and representatives from the business community in other parts of the country systematically and sometimes aggressively work to promote their regions’ interests, we unfortunately see too little of this from the north. In other regions, it is not uncommon for strong business players and political leaders to work closely to put pressure on the government – not just to get a breakthrough for projects or grants for their own municipality, but for issues that will indirectly create growth and development in the long term. The Ministry of Transport and Communications is naturally extra exposed to this. Transport constitutes a key chip in strengthening business and improving competitiveness every region. Equally cross -political thoughts could be thought now as the Armed Forces should be rebuilt in the north. Someone in the north must be awake to ensure cross -sectoral added value of politics in the north.
I myself have seen how business associations and industrial clusters from Western Norway and Southern Norway are not content to submit consultation input or enter the newspapers. They show up in the ministries, organize delegations to the Storting and ensure that their cases are on the agenda. Some have established strong interest organizations with their own daily leaders and what belongs to to lobby the right decisions in the Storting. Often, these have prepared heavy professional reports and legal statements about why exactly their case should be adopted, and preferably yesterday. They know what buttons to press, what power figures to talk to, and they understand the value of continuous follow -up and networking. As a secretary of state, I could occasionally see one and the same sentence be bumped from both of the country’s political outer edges – during the same week. Some had obviously made good sales.
In Northern Norway, it is well done if some mayor makes the trip to Oslo to promote important issues. In my own municipality, I do not remember that anyone from political leadership has been in Oslo since the municipal elections two years ago. How can we expect to have a breakthrough for Northern Norwegian interests when we are not even present where the decisions are made? My tip based on self -experienced experiences from other regions; Mas, stand on the requirement and be aggressive – in a constructive way. One meeting is not enough – conduct 100 meetings with exactly the same message with everything and anyone who can creep and go by decision makers in the capital. And when you feel you have enough? Then you ask for another couple of meetings.
We need a change of attitude in Northern Norway. It is not enough to submit applications and hope for the best. We must organize ourselves better, build strategic alliances and be present where power is exercised. We need a stronger and more coordinated effort from business, mayors and regional councils to ensure that Northern Norway does not end up in the back of the battle for resources and political attention. We have to stop cutting each other down in the local newspaper to more often work together for what we agree after all. If we are to ensure sustainable growth and development in the north, we must begin to work more purposefully and professionally – as they do in the rest of the country.
We have great opportunities in the north, but we must take ownership and responsibility to ensure that these are realized.
