Arctic Economic Council Launched

The founding meeting of the Arctic Economic Council (AEC) was held in Iqaluit, Canada, September 2-3. The new Arctic Economic Council (AEC) is expected to create growth in Arctic areas – with an emphasis on taking the environment and local population into consideration.

One of the founding members of the AEC is the Danish Shipowners’ Association, which represented Denmark’s interests, along with the Foreign Ministry and the Confederation of Danish Industry.

“We are very interested in the opportunities for growth which exist in the Arctic, and Danish shipping has the necessary experience and expertise to offer its services when opportunities arise.

The AEC is a good initiative which can help to ensure Arctic growth in a sustainable manner, which is also crucial for us, just as it is important that the work is done in close cooperation with the local representatives in the Arctic,” said the Danish Shipowners’ Association Deputy Director General Jan Fritz Hansen.

Around 20 representatives of business in all the Arctic states and the indigenous people of the Arctic took part in the meeting.

The Danish representatives see great potential hidden in the Arctic which could provide an increased number of new tasks for shipping in the long term.

The purpose of the meeting was to create a general framework for further work, which will focus on market access and investments, public-private partnerships, establishing local foundations and developing employment and educational opportunities for the indigenous people.

“This is the beginning for the AEC. Soon working groups will be set up, in which the focus from our side will be on shipping and offshore,” said Jan Fritz Hansen.