Tim Walz highlights clean energy ties during Iceland visit

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz praised Iceland’s expertise in geothermal and renewable energy during a visit to Iceland, mbl.is reported.

The American-Icelandic Chamber of Commerce hosted an event at Arion Bank’s headquarters last Friday. Its highlight was a panel discussion between Walz and Bjarni Benediktsson. Walz said he wanted Minnesota to expand its wind and solar energy production, and discussed the political landscape in the United States and growth opportunities in biotechnology and health technology in Minnesota.

In remarks at the event, chamber chairman Hlynur Ólafsson pointed to the close economic ties between Iceland and Minnesota. He cited Icelandair’s nearly three decades of direct flights to Minneapolis, Kerecis’s growing operations in Minnesota as it works toward becoming Iceland’s first unicorn, and the presence of Embla Medical and JBT Marel in the state.

Next week, Foreign Minister Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir will lead a business delegation organised by the chamber and Business Iceland to Minneapolis. The delegation is scheduled to visit the headquarters of General Mills, 3M, Best Buy, U.S. Bancorp, Coloplast, Polaris and Neckare.