ODIM MEETS CLIENTS NEEDS

For over 25 years Birger Myklebust has lived and worked in Asia. While there he has played a central role in the edification of Ulstein Group and later Rolls - Royce`s maritime activities. Now its ODIM`s commitment in the region he is responsible for.

- The market in Asia is huge and the possibilities many. ODIM has got great products and talented people, and the commitment in this continent will give ODIM a profitable growth for the company on a long term basis, says Birger Myklebust. Birger is feeling safe that the commitment he is set to lead will give results. Even though the world economy is in a tough period at the moment, China and India are experiencing growth. These countries have a need for energy and outside the coastline there are sea territories that have a huge potential for oil and gas extraction.

- ODIM has experience from demanding operations such as in the North Sea and has the necessary technology and products that oil and shipping companies ask for. But there are competing products, and that is why a local presence in Asia is vital to have close contact to the clients and to gain market share, says Birger.

HUGE DIFFERENCES

Throughout his long career in Asia he has learned how to nurture good client relationships and appreciate local culture and manners.

- Asia is a continent, and the differences between the countries are a lot greater than we are used to in Europe. It is not possible to use your experiences from one country to another. We need to learn business culture and customs for the specific country. To do business in Asia it is important to tie connections to good, local people and to nurture relations. Personal contact and good relations with the clients are far more important in Asia than we are used to at home in Norway, he says. - Even though there are many differences, the Chinese for example are not so different from us here on the west coast of Norway. They have the same go ahead and entrepreneurial spirit, he says with a smile.

HARØYA AND ASIA

The coastal life of Norway is something Birger knows plenty about. He was born and raised by the sea at a place called Myklebust on Harøya, which is an island on the west coast of Norway. He graduated as a Machine Engineer in Ålesund, Norway and he took additional education in electronics when he was in the army. From there onwards he started in Ulstein Propeller in 1980 where he worked at the service department. Ulstein and later Rolls Royce have been his working places.

- Most of the past 28 years have I spent abroad. I first went to Italy, the United States and France to follow up on the progress of package deliveries. After that I went to Singapore for twelve years where I monitored amongst other things the construction of more than 40 supply vessels from contracts that Ulstein was awarded in various Asiatic countries, Birger explains.

He continued to receive new tasks within the company that was later acquired by Rolls - Royce, such as the sale of design and equipment packages with UT-design and the building of a factory for deck machinery in Korea. He was also the regional manager for Asia and in recent years the manager for the merchant vessel division and the global head office for this segment in Shanghai.

A REGION OF GROWTH

- Asia has over 75 percent of the activity within the shipbuilding world, and we see new shipping companies emerging in this region with a commitment to offshore. These countries have an enormous need for energy and in this market there is a huge potential for the products that ODIM develops and produces, he points out. Birger`s task will be to build a infrastructure for ODIM the same way he has done in the past for Ulstein/ Rolls - Royce.

- The experience is that there will be new growth at home in Norway when one expands in China. Total volume will go up, which means there will be a need for more people with the capacity to invent and develop new and innovative solutions.

GRAB THE OPPORTUNITY!

One of Birger`s biggest wish is that young people who want to develop will see the advantages opening up in Asia.

- There is a wealth of opportunities in this world for young people that want to work, travel and learn. I would love to see the young people within the ODIM organization grabbing the opportunity to work for a period abroad. The world is getting smaller and the trading partners closer and for us as an international company it is important to know the different cultures and ways of living in the world. For the ones that are willing to take this leap I am more than willing to share the knowledge that I have about Asia, and also function as a mentor for the ones that are willing to learn, says the Director of ODIM Asia, Birger Myklebust.