HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit to visit New York on 7-8 March
Historical archive
Published under: Solberg's Government
Publisher: Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Press release | Date: 14/02/2018
HRH Crown Princess Mette-Marit will visit New York on 7-8 March. On 7 March, she will present Innovation Norway's Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award. On International Women's Day, 8 March, she will give the opening speech at a global event hosted by Innovation Norway and UN Women, bringing together thought leaders, entrepreneurs and investors to discuss how to achieve the financial inclusion of women.
This year's Female Entrepreneur prize will be awarded to a Norwegian technology entrepreneur who has ventured into foreign markets and is working to achieve one or more of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The SDGs, adopted by all UN member states, are 17 goals for sustainable development. Innovation Norway aims to use the prize as an inspiration to encourage female technology entrepreneurs to look further and bring their solutions to new markets.
The goal of the event on 8 March is to highlight ways in which new technology can help to ensure women's financial inclusion and economic independence, and encourage more people to invest in female entrepreneurs. Some two billion people worldwide, most of them women, have limited or no access to financial services. New technology provides opportunities to save, borrow, and earn money. This strengthens women's independence and security, and increases their chances of starting their own company.
Cooperation across sectors and countries is needed to bring about structural changes and to influence attitudes. Entrepreneurs in Norway and other countries can provide innovative ideas and new technology, while established companies can share their experience and provide the resources required to bring new solutions to potential users.
New York is one of the world's fastest growing cities for start-ups, and many Norwegian entrepreneurs and start-ups have set up offices in the city. Nordic Innovation House, the US headquarters for the Nordic start-up community, opened in New York last year. Nordic Innovation House is a collaboration between Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland.
Contact persons:
The Royal Palace: Ole-Edvard Wold-Reitan, Ole.Edvard.Wold-Reitan@slottet.no
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Linken Berryman, LNB@mfa.no mobile phone: +47 957 46 198
Innovation Norway: Julie Ryland, Julie.Ryland@innovasjonnorge.no mobile phone: + 47 48 11 19 75
Please send applications for media accreditation by 26 February, 2018 to: Julie.Ryland@innovasjonnorge.no