The prize is awarded to a municipality on the basis of individual measures in a specific area, or good overall work on sustainable business development together with stakeholders in the business community.
- This is well-deserved and important for our entire region! For Norway's largest regulated business park at Gismarvik, it is particularly important to have a forward-looking and proactive municipality. This is where the important area and energy-intensive establishments in western Norway will be located. As the host municipality, Tysvær has a very committed mayor who works strategically, not just for Tysvær, but for the entire region. The mayor and his staff are always accommodating and we experience very good cooperation and commitment from the municipality," says Tiril Fjeld, general manager of Haugaland Næringspark.
Haugaland Næringspark is among those who have nominated Tysvær municipality for the award, and Mayor Sigmund Lier sees the prize as a motivation to continue investing in business and industry in the municipality.
- This provides enormous inspiration to continue our efforts to be a good host for both small and large establishments. We welcome all kinds of business development to Tysvær, and are keen to ensure that it is possible to make money here. We want to build business, networks and industry, in addition to facilitating good interaction platforms. I hope and believe that we are perceived as real and constructive, and that we are smiling. We're keen to ensure a good climate of cooperation, and we're more than happy to have a cup of coffee when someone wants a chat," says the mayor.
Kårstø Process Plant also congratulates Tysvær Municipality as the winner.
- This is very nice and well deserved! Tysvær municipality is a driving force in relation to energy transition and the creation of new jobs. The municipality always says YES in relation to dialog and cooperation. Tysvær municipality, led by mayor Sigmund Lier, works to ensure that Equinor and other companies succeed," says Ove Tungesvik, head of communications at Equinor.
Tysvær municipality recognized the potential of a regional business park at an early stage and took the initiative to establish Haugaland Business Park back in 2001. The agreement with neighboring municipalities on ownership and location of the park, strategically located in relation to both established and intended infrastructure and not least proximity to established industry. The location facilitates ripple effects in all the owner municipalities. The area of 5,000 acres was zoned for industrial purposes, which has provided great flexibility to divide out plots adapted to each individual establishment as needed. More recently, the municipality has helped to implement measures to safeguard important infrastructure, always in collaboration with the other owner municipalities. Team spirit and regional cooperation are highly valued in Tysvær municipality.
- The fact that Haugaland Business Park has a welcoming host municipality and mayor means that both Norwegian and foreign businesses feel welcome here. We consider the process to be exemplary for municipalities across the country that want new, green industry," says Tiril Fjeld.
