Arctic Circle forum puts the region’s future on the agenda

Canada’s foreign minister, Anita Anand, Greenland’s foreign minister, Múte B. Egede, and European Commission Director-General for International Partnerships Jozef Síkela will open a discussion on the future of the Arctic at the Arctic Circle forum in Harpa, a conference venue, mbl.is reported.

The three will also answer questions from delegates. More than 2,000 people from about 70 countries are attending the forum.

A discussion of US plans for the Arctic will follow, with Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy and Tom Dans, chair of the US Arctic Research Commission, taking questions. US Senator Lisa Murkowski is scheduled to speak on the forum’s main stage on the final day, October 10.

Ministers and diplomats from Turkey, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Faroe Islands, Estonia, India and Singapore will also speak on the main stage this afternoon.

The forum’s business programme began before noon with roundtable discussions on investment and opportunities in the Arctic. Over the coming days, business leaders, entrepreneurs and investors will discuss the region’s commercial future, including investment in infrastructure, shipping, tourism, energy and construction, with a particular focus on Greenland, northern Canada, Iceland and the Faroe Islands. The programme includes 12 roundtables.

Today’s main programme also includes seminars on topics such as the new space race, the influence of major powers in the Arctic, scientific research and Indigenous peoples’ power. The forum as a whole will feature about 200 seminars and 700 speakers.