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Barents Sea agreement set speed on Arkhangelsk cooperation

Barents focus on Margaritinskaya Fair

The finalization of the last unresolved dispute between Norway and Russia seems to have created an atmosphere of renewed possibilities for business investments across borders in the Barents Region. The Norwegian days in Arkhangelsk last week was a strong demonstration of this.

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Barents focus on Margaritinskaya Fair

See slide show of photos from the Margaritinskaya Fair

With the Norwegian days in Arkhangelsk being organized in connection with the annual Margaritinskaya Fair, the Norwegian presence at the festival was more visible than ever. In the aftermath of the Murmansk signing of the Barents Sea delimitation line, the focus on increased Norwegian-Russian relations has been intensified. In the town of Arkhangelsk, where Norwegian – Russian trade and commerce first begun through Pomor trade decades ago, the business cooperation seems to be on the verge of a new dawn.

There are few Norwegian enterprises operating in Arkhangelsk today. However, the positivism of the Murmansk agreement was still coloring the atmosphere as Norwegian and Russian businessmen gathered in Arkhangelsk. The presence of Norway’s foreign minister Jonas Gahr Støre and the establishment of a new Norwegian honorary consulate to Arkhangelsk, made the debate even more current. With Governor of Arkhangelsk, Ilya Mikhailchuk, as one of the most evident supporters of this view, there are many Norwegians who believe there are new possibilities ahead.

In a conference organized by the Norwegian – Russian chamber of commerce, foreign minister Støre said that the problems which Norwegian companies previously have encountered when trying to establish activity in Arkhangelsk, has often been related to unpredictability. Both when it comes to juridical terms and political reluctance locally.

At the opening of the Norwegian honorary consulate, Støre said that he believes that the honorary consul, Andrey Shalyov, might become an important door opener for Norwegian businesses with their eyes on Arkhangelsk. Shalyov has been working in the Norwegian Barents Secretariat for 15 years and has broad knowledge on both Norwegian and Russian society and politics.

- We hope you can contribute to an active and close relationship between people, businesses, and culture groups in Norway and Arkhangelsk, Støre said before handing over the honorary consul diploma.

In the business arena of the Margaritinskaya fair, there were almost as many North-Norway companies represented as there were Russian. During the weekend several cooperation agreements between various institutions in Norway and Arkhangelsk were signed. Cooperation on youth crime, general regional cooperation between Troms, Finnmark and Arkhangelsk, closer cooperation with both Tromsø and Bodø Universities with Arkhangelsk University and a renewal of Statoils cooperation with Arkhangelsk Oblast. In total there was a delegation of more than 200 Norwegians during the Margaritinskaya fair and the Norwegian days in Arkhangelsk.

Margaritinskaya Fair