subject: The Best Way To Norway When Sending A Valuable Parcel Is To Use An International Courier [print this page] Norway has only been fully independent from Sweden for a little more than a century, but in that relatively short time, it has developed into one of the most prosperous countries in the world, with a trade balance which helps pay for a very well-funded pension scheme for all its citizens.
The country jealously guards its rights to exploit massive natural resources, especially oil and gas in the North, Norwegian and Barents Seas, and as a result of having these huge riches, it has been keen to remain neutral in international conflicts.
The revenues the country earns from the exploitation of its oil and gas, as well as its increasing use of hydropower and its extensive forests, help ensure that the country can punch above its weight in international matters, and the desire to keep control of these resources is also a major reason why Norwegians have so far resisted attempts to get it to join the European Union.
While the standard of living enjoyed by Norwegians is one of the highest in the world, it does mean that the cost of many basic commodities is very high. As a result of this, the country is suffering the consequences of a declining birth rate, as some younger Norwegians move to less expensive countries. While Norway is the worlds 67th largest country, it ranks much lower than this in the table of countries by population density.
With a coastline that runs to more than 16,000 miles, including its many small islands, Norway has historically been an important seafaring nation. Its often harsh climate and poor quality soil mean that it is only able to produce a small fraction of the crops its population needs, and for imports of these and other principal items, such as machinery, metals and chemicals, it is most heavily reliant on its closest neighbours, particularly Sweden, Germany and Denmark.
However, six per cent of Norways total imports come from the UK, so there are excellent trading relationships between the two countries. These are helped greatly by the existence of regular and reliable air and sea routes across the North Sea.
Cargo flights principally use Gardermoen Airport, 30 miles north of the capital, Oslo, but others also serve regional airports in the likes of Stavanger, Tromso, Bergen, Trondheim and Narvik. An excellent road network connects each of these main centres, making it possible to send a parcel to every major town and city no matter what its size and contents.
