“I am pleased that today I can present Jens Stoltenberg as Norway's new central bank governor,” Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum said in a statement.

The current governor of Norges Bank, Øystein Olsen, who is going to retire this year after holding the position since Jan. 1, 2011, for two terms, congratulated Stoltenberg on his new appointment.

"On behalf of Norges Bank, I would like to congratulate Jens Stoltenberg on his appointment as Governor of Norges Bank. I know Mr Stoltenberg to be an engaged and competent economist. I am certain that with his broad experience he will successfully fill this role", said Governor Øystein Olsen.

“Mr Stoltenberg cannot take office until around 1 December. But I know that Norges Bank will be in safe hands under the leadership of Deputy Governor Ida Wolden Bache from 1 March", Governor Olsen added.

Stoltenberg confirmed on 14 December that he had applied for the position, and specified that he had told the Ministry of Finance that he could not ascend to the position before his term as NATO Secretary-General has expired on 1 October 2022.

Jens Stoltenberg is a Norwegian politician who has served as the 13th secretary-general of NATO since 2014.

A member of the Labor Party, he previously served as the 34th prime minister of Norway from 2000 to 2001 and again from 2005 until 2013. (ILKHA)