From the President

2004 was an active year for our Chamber. It is with great pleasure that I present the Annual Report of the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce, Mid-Atlantic Chapter Inc. (NACC MA). The main goals for 2004 were to provide networking and marketing opportunities for our members and arrange meetings with high profile leaders from the public and private sectors, increase the network of companies and individuals, and secure funding of increased activities and augmented administrative efforts. I am pleased to report that all of these goals were successfully accomplished.

The Chamber continued its growth in 2004. At the end of the year the diverse membership portfolio consisted of 38 member companies of which 21 were American, 12 Norwegian subsidiaries and 5 Norwegian. One of our goals has been to develop a membership base in Norway and a bridge between Norwegian and Americans with common business interests. We are making progress in this effort and 18 of our members now live in Norway. The 150-member milestone was reached last year, and among our 152 individual members, 98 are company representatives and 54 are individual members.

Several of our committees had special events during 2004. I am very pleased that the group of Young Professionals has grown to become one of the largest and most active in the Chamber and among the family of Norwegian-American chambers in the U.S. At the national level I have encouraged other chambers to become proactive in an effort to create commercial business relations with Innovation Norway in an effort to increase trade and business opportunities between our two nations.

Innovation Norway has developed strategic goals for innovation, internationalization and marketing. A partnership between Innovation Norway and the Norwegian-American chambers in the U.S. could be of great valuable for both parties. The chambers' resources of individuals and member company representatives are familiar with businesses in the U.S. and experts in their fields of operation. The resource of more than 1000 individuals, 220 companies and 550 company representatives at various executive levels could be a valuable asset in Innovation Norway's plans and programs.

This year will mark one hundred years since the union between Norway and Sweden was dissolved by peaceful means, and 2005 will be celebrated both at home and abroad. The Chamber will develop its 2005 Yearbook, a high-quality magazine-type publication to help our members and strategic partners achieve greater visibility and impact in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic - Norway marketplace. At the same time the publication will provide an opportunity to celebrate the Norwegian Centennial Year.

In 2005 we will continue to improve networking, marketing and business opportunities for our members. I am looking forward to your continued support and active participation in the Chamber.