Crown Prince Haakon makes official visit to Russia.

On 25 February, Crown Prince Haakon started a 3-day official visit to Russia. The Crown Prince promoted Norwegian business' investment in St. Petersburg and Leningrad.

Keeping on his Russian visit, on 26 February Crown Prince Haakon attended the official opening of Jotun's new factory outside of St. Petersburg. Jotun has been a supplier of paint to the Russian shipbuilding industry for many years.

Later that day, the Crown Prince attended the opening of a business seminar in downtown St. Petersburg. In his speech he drew up the fact that many Norwegian companies choose to establish themselves in Russia: 

- An Increasing number of Norwegian companies see the potential - and are, as a result, investing in Russia. Around 100 Norwegian companies are now well established in Russia. Several Russian companies, such as Lukoil and Rosneft, have established themelves in Norway as well. We hope to see many more in the years to come. 

Crown Prince Haakon also held posts for students at Baltic State Technical University ( BSTU ). Several former students have become leading experts in missile and military technology, and known cosmonauts as Gregory Gretsjko and Sergei Krikaljov studied there.

In the evening the Crown Prince participated at a seafood reception at the Ethnographic Museum , with representatives of governments , civil society and business. Trio Mediaeval and Arve Henriksen contributed a cultural element of receipt.

Finally, on his last day in Russia, the Crown Prince made a short visit to the Norwegian FMC Technologies in their offices at the Winter Palace. The company is a world leader in systems and solutions to the oil and gas production on the seabed.