Westfjords association broadens mission beyond infrastructure

The Westfjords Progress Association has changed its name and expanded its focus beyond infrastructure to support the region’s broader development, mbl.is reported.

The organisation was established in 2024 as the Westfjords Infrastructure Association. Its new name reflects the change in its role since it was founded, according to Guðmundur Fertram Sigurjónsson, the association’s spokesman and founder of innovation company Kerecis, which is headquartered in Ísafjörður.

“Infrastructure remains the foundation, but it is not the goal in itself. The goal is to promote progress in the Westfjords as a whole,” he said.

Guðmundur said the region should be at the forefront of development in the Arctic, which he described as one of Europe’s fastest-growing areas in the coming decades.

Westfjords route remains a priority

Guðmundur originally established the association with support from the largest companies in the Westfjords to unite the business community around a shared vision for the region. Transport issues, particularly the proposed Westfjords route, were initially the main focus.

The project involves building a lowland road from the Ring Road in Borgarfjörður through Reykhólasveit and the southern Westfjords, along with tunnels beneath Brattabrekka, Klettsháls and Dynjandisheiði. It also includes planned tunnels through Mikladalur and Hálfdán in Vesturbyggð, as well as road shelters on the routes from Ísafjörður to Súðavík and Hnífsdalur.

“We will continue to press for the Westfjords route, as it is an important interest for both the Westfjords and the nation as a whole,” Guðmundur said.

He said bringing the Westfjords’ transport system up to the standard found elsewhere in the country would support continued economic growth, greater prosperity, increased value creation and higher tax contributions to the state treasury.

Focus expands to innovation and security

Over the past two years, it has become clear that the region’s future depends on more than roads and electricity, Guðmundur said. Innovation, knowledge creation, research, education and venture investment would also be important.

The association aims to attract skilled people, strengthen international cooperation and improve the Westfjords’ competitiveness as a leading Arctic region.

The association will remain an independent, business-led platform through which the business community speaks with a common voice on the Westfjords’ interests and works towards the region’s long-term development.

One of its next projects is an international seminar at the Arctic Circle Assembly 2026 titled “Dual-Use Infrastructure and Resilience in the Arctic”. It will examine how dual-use infrastructure, including the interaction of airports, ports, energy, telecommunications and transport systems, can strengthen both civilian security and defence readiness in the Arctic.

“The Westfjords are no longer a peripheral region but a key location in the Arctic. The aim of the seminar is to begin an international discussion on how infrastructure development can increase community resilience, strengthen the economy and improve Iceland’s security at the same time,” Guðmundur said.