On Oslo #5
I'm Siw Andersen, CEO, Oslo Business Region. On Oslo is a series where I’ll share my thoughts on what Oslo needs to succeed globally. This one’s about what Oslo needs to compete on the global stage - and what we must do to succeed.
Standing Out in Global Competition
Oslo competes every single day with cities across the world – for investment, visitors, talent, and attention. To succeed with the green transition and create new growth, Oslo needs to raise its international profile.
The OECD points out that cities play a key role in building a sustainable economy for the future. To do that, Oslo has to be ambitious, clear, and much more visible on the global stage.
At Arendalsuka, we explored Oslo’s global visibility ahead of Oslo: State of the City 2025, which launches on 3 September. Here are three key takeaways from our Oslo Day event, Status Oslo: Visibility in a Global Competition.
1. Urban development and sustainability drive visibility
On the Arendal stage, Einar Holthe (Natural State) shared how sustainability, meeting places, and identity make urban development a powerful tool for raising Oslo’s profile. The same principles guide his work with Fuglen. Fuglen combines Norwegian coffee culture and design and is now expanding to new locations across Asia, including Japan, Korea, and Indonesia.
2. Authentic communication cuts through
Thea Gunnes (VisitOslo) showed that real, distinctive storytelling often resonates far more with our audiences than glossy, big-budget campaigns. Who hasn’t seen Halfdan?
3. The City of Peace as a global brand
Kim Reksten (Nobel Peace Centre) reminded us that the Nobel Peace Prize is one of Oslo’s strongest international brands. Each year, hundreds of journalists from around the world come to Oslo to cover the award ceremony.
What’s next?
This autumn, Oslo Business Region is bringing together strategic minds, doers, and Oslo enthusiasts to position the city as top choice for international talent, visitors, and investors. Our focus will be on:
Anchor Oslo’s international brand strategy
Connect partners for collaboration and scaling
Tell Oslo’s story together and share tools so many can put the Oslo brand into action.
Oslo has what the world needs. Now it is our turn to share that story with the world – together.
Join the launch of Oslo: State of the City 2025 on 3 September
In the past decade, Oslo has gone from being under the radar to gaining stronger international recognition. Oslo: State of the City 2025 will highlight both our progress and the areas where global competition is accelerating.
At the launch event at the National Museum, Dr Tim Moonen (The Business of Cities) will share key findings from the report and his perspective on how Oslo measures up against other leading cities and what it will take to stand out in the next phase.
Hope to see you there. Sign up here.