General News

International communication is increasingly difficult as the level of information rises. This has resulted in a growing demand for structured information to ease the search for international suppliers and customers. In times with global financial challenges, Norwegian companies are characterized by high quality goods and services from a stable and growing market. The new trade portal will be the Gateway to Norway for international companies and organizations.

“If one man can show so much hatred, imagine how much love we can show together.” So said a young woman who lost friends on the island of Utøya during the attacks of Friday 22 July. The quote has been widely embraced by survivors, families and political leaders in Norway.

The Eritrean Book Fair, organized by the Eritrean Publishers Association, was successfully conducted for the 10th year. The Norwegian Embassy has supported the Book Fair for the last three years, and as the previous years, the Embassy displayed a selection of Norwegian literature translated into English.

From 8th to 12th of February the Embassy facilitated a visit by a fact finding mission to Eritrea by Norwegian Immigration Authorities. The delegation had representatives from the Norwegian Country of Origin Information Centre, Landinfo, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, UDI, and the Norwegian Immigration Appeals Board, UNE. During the stay in Asmara they met with Eritrean officials, representatives from Embassies in Asmara as well as with different UN agencies and NGOs. The delegation had a constructive and busy week, and they also found time to visit and explore the city and its

The Embassy in Asmara will start using the Norwegian Application Portal on 31 January 2011. The new application procedure will result in shorter processing time, as well as making it easier for applicants to re-apply for subsequent visas. Applicants can also check the status of their applications online. Applicants using the Application Portal will be given priority before applicants using paper applications. For more information on the new application procedure, see here.

The Delegation of the European Union together with the European Diplomatic Missions and Cultural Agencies is pleased to announce the 8th European Film Week. This year’s festival features a diverse lineup of the best of European cinema, including films and animation for children and a final lottery draw. The festival will travel around the country starting in Massawa on the 10th and 11th of November, moving to Keren and Dekhamare on the 13th and 14th of November with the main programme coming to Asmara from the 27th of November to the 3rd of December. In this year’s film week you have the...

The Norwegian Embassy was delighted to participate in and support the 9th Eritrean Book Fair, held in Asmara March 19-28 2010. The yearly book fair has become an important event for promoting reading skills in Eritrea.

The Norwegian Embassy in Asmara has participated in the preparations for the resettlement of 41 Somali refugees in Norway (transfer refugees). It is the first time Somali refugees are resettled from Eritrea to Norway. The Somali refugees have been in Eritrea for a considerable time, and cannot return to their country of origin, according to how their situation has been assessed by UNHCR and Norwegian immigration authorities. Many of those that departured to Norway in March 2010 are children who have lived their whole lives in Emkulu Refugee Camp in Massawa, Eritrea.

The Eritrean production of Henrik Ibsen's Doll's House was recently performed in 4 cities outside Asmara, namely Massawa, Keren, Dekamhare and Mendefara. Several hundred people attended the performances and expressed their appreciation of this important cultural cooperation between Eritrea and Norway

The fjords of Norway have once again been crowned the world’s top travel destination in the annual survey of National Geographic Travelers panellists.