– Quite concretely, this money will lead to us getting 700 new jobs. That’s what Morten Brandtzæg says. He is CEO of the arms manufacturer Nammo. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram came to the company at Raufoss with a billion-dollar contract. War in Europe leads to increased demand and need for ammunition. Therefore, Nammo must produce much more. – It’s because of a pitch-black backdrop. It is in many ways the result of an unsafe world situation that this is being done, says Brandtzæg. Many new jobs Despite the gloomy backdrop, the two people are happy about the billion the state is now investing in arms production at Raufoss. – I am becoming optimistic, says mayor Tonje Bergum Jahr (Ap). Tonje Bergum Jahr (Ap) is mayor of Vestre Toten municipality, which houses the arms manufacturer Nammo. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB She believes that the state’s investment in the cornerstone company in Vestre Toten can lead to more residents and increased activity in the municipality. – This type of investment will lead to 700 new jobs in the next six years. It takes time to build up, but the contract still means growth for the area here, quite clearly, says Jahr. Need people with different skills The town of Toten has just under 8,000 inhabitants. When they probably need around 700 new employees at Nammo by 2030, they will have to look outside the municipality, says Brandtzæg. – We have to take from the entire Inland, he says. The arms manufacturer Nammo produces ammunition, rockets and high-tech weapons. Photo: William Jobling / news And there is no shortage of people or knowledge that the arms manufacturer needs. – We need mechanical engineers, skilled workers, economists, project managers, technicians, construction managers and so on. But he does not think it will be difficult to find people to fill the new jobs. Nav director in the interior, Bjørn Lien, doesn’t think so either. – It seems that these are safe workplaces for the foreseeable future. I think this provides good opportunities for many, says Lien – We as a nation have a great need to take care of our defense interests. Norway has an important role, Nammo has shown that they can deliver and that they have good solutions, says Bjørn Lien, Nav director in Innlandet. Photo: Anne Kari Løberg / news – There are enough people to take down. The challenge will be to get hold of the good expertise that is needed to develop and create the jobs and solutions that Nammo will deliver here, says Lien. This is Nammo Nammo AS produces ammunition, rockets and high-tech weapons. The head office is at Raufoss in Vestre Toten, but Nammo has more than 2,700 employees, 28 production sites and is present in 12 countries. The state owns 50 percent of the shares in Nammo. The state has a shareholder agreement with the Finnish defense group Patria, which owns 50 percent of the company. Patria is again owned 50.1 percent by the Finnish state, and 49.9 percent by the Norwegian Kongsberg Group. Source: Nammo, the government. Request for 850 million The billion contract from the state did not come a day too early for the arms manufacturer. – Nammo can produce a quarter of the artillery ammunition we need in the world, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap). Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB In several rounds, Nammo has asked for support to increase the capacity to produce grenades that are in demand from Ukraine and NATO countries. The arms manufacturer asked for 850 million in investments. As of 1 December last year, they had received NOK 75 million from the state for the purpose. The state owns 50 percent of Nammo. – The collaboration with the governing authorities contributed to a much stronger and quicker production week than we could have achieved alone, says Brandtzæg. Morten Brandtzæg is executive director at Nammo. Photo: Alexander Nordby / news Several actions against the head office Recently, there have been several actions at Nammo’s head office in Raufoss. In December, activists from the Palestine Committee chained themselves outside the gate. They claimed that weapons from Nammo are being used to kill Palestinians in Gaza. Nammo rejects these claims. During a ski jump in Lysgårdsbakken in Lillehammer in December, among other things, the action group “Activists for Palestine” appeared. The jumping team is sponsored by the arms manufacturer Nammo. Photo: Geir Olsen / NTB Earlier in December, the action group “Activists for Palestine” also appeared during a jumping competition in Lysgårdsbakken in Lillehammer. The Norwegian show jumping team has a sponsorship agreement with Nammo, and the activists criticized this collaboration. – The Jumping National Team must break the collaboration with Nammo no, shouted the demonstrators.
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War in Europe gives 700 new jobs to the arms manufacturer Nammo at Raufoss – news Innlandet – Local news, TV and radio
