The meeting offered a good opportunity to exchange perspectives on the strong ties between Norway and the Philippines and on how the embassy can support seafarers and the Norwegian maritime community.
The topics included recruitment, visa and certification processes, safety, and competence development. Torger highlighted that the Philippines is an important part of Odfjell’s global organization, with many Filipino colleagues playing a key role in our operations at sea and ashore.
H.E. Kristian Netland is no stranger to the Philippines. He previously spent four years in Manila, from 2014 to 2018, serving as First Secretary and Deputy Head of Mission at the Royal Norwegian Embassy.
After subsequent roles in Oslo and as Deputy Head of Mission at the Norwegian Embassy in Jakarta, he is now returning to Manila as Norway’s ambassador – a return he has described as "an opportunity to reconnect with old friends, build new partnerships, and further strengthen relations between the two countries."