DNV GL, the world’s leading ship classification society and one of the world’s leading risk and sustainability service providers, has moved into a new office that was officially opened by His Royal Highness Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and Henrik O. Madsen, Group President & CEO, DNV GL.

The official ceremony was part of the program of the Norwegian trade delegation visiting Vietnam this week. Besides the Crown Prince, the Norwegian Minister of Trade and Fisheries, Ms. Monica Mæland also attended the inauguration ceremony.DNV GL has had presence in Vietnam since 1995. Starting out as a Representative Office, the new office which is located in the heart of the business district in HCMC will consolidate the operations of its three business areas – Maritime, Oil & Gas and Business Assurance – under one roof. The open concept office will foster closer collaboration and working efficiencies between the employees of both DNV and GL which merged in September last year.

Vietnam is a strong emerging market for DNV GL’s services in the maritime and oil & gas industries. In the shipbuilding industry, DNV GL is already represented at major shipyards from the north to south of Vietnam and we firmly believe that the oil & gas industry will develop further in the years to come.

“The growth of Vietnam’s oil & gas industry over recent years has been astonishing. We believe this growth will continue and will drive the need for more local expertise and knowledge. We currently have 60 employees in Vung Tau and Ho Chi Minh who are mostly Vietnamese nationals, and we plan to employ and develop more local expertise in Vietnam,” said Dr Madsen.

Rising demand for energy has prompted Vietnam to focus on exploration in deeper water reserves that requires high level of technologies. The country also needs large amounts of gas to cover future energy demands. Parts of this gas can be extracted from the Vietnamese continental shelf.

“With more than 40 years of experience in offshore and deepwater technology, DNV GL is ready to support Vietnam’s offshore field developments in applying technological innovations and practices. Furthermore, we launched the Deepwater Technology Centre, a competence centre in Singapore in 2012 to support the oil & gas industry in the region,” added Dr Madsen.

With a strong base in maritime and oil & gas business, DNV GL is also looking into venturing into new and exciting areas such as electricity and gas power with the authorities and industrial players in Vietnam.