Ambassador Arni Thor Sigurdsson visits Murmansk

Ambassador Arni Thor Sigurdsson visited Murmansk on 9-11 September on the occasion of the opening of a new fish processing plant, Murman Seafood, which is equipped with machinery by Icelandic company Valka hf. He was accompanied by representatives of Valka hf., Mr Jon Birgir Gunnarsson and Mr Kristjan R. Kristjansson, and Ms Ilona Vasileva, the embassy's trade representative. The visit to Murmansk also included meetings with the fish processing plants Polar Sea, Hampidjan and Moretron, which all have ties with Icelandic companies.

During a visit to the Central City Library of Murmansk, the Ambassador met with the Mayor of Murmansk, Mr Evgeny V. Nikora, where they discussed the importance of cultural cooperation. The library was gifted with Icelandic books translated into Russian, e.g. Adventa by Gunnar Gunnarsson, Fíasól by Kristín Helga Gunnarsdóttir, Thorvaldur vídförli by Arni Bergmann, a Russian-Icelandic dictionary by Helgi Harldsson and a collection of Icelandic poetry.

Murmansk State Technical University recently signed an agreement with the University of Akureyri to establish and develop a partnership, especially in the field of arctic affairs. Ambassador Sigurdsson met with reprensentatives of the University to discuss the next steps related to student exchange and joint educational projects.

The Ambassador then met with the Governor of Murmansk, Mr Andrey V. Chibis, and together they discussed cooperation between Iceland and Murmansk in the fields of trade, culture, education and arctic affairs. They agreed there are great opportunities for trade, especially for Icelandic seatech companies.

The visit concluded with a meeting with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Murmansk Region. Topics of disucssion included trade opportunities between Iceland and Murmansk and the foundation of the Russian-Icelandic Chamber of Commerce.