Every year the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) places funds in the Norwegian Barents Secretariat, to the disposal for Norwegian-Russian cooperation projects. The funds for 2009 have been increased by 125.000 EUR, the same increase as for the four last years.
Cooperation millions
Of the total sum, 650.000 EUR will be used to run the office in Kirkenes and the Russian offices in Murmansk, Arkhangelsk and Naryan-Mar.
− The remaining 3.75 million EUR will be used to finance new Barents projects for cooperation between Norwegians and Russians, says Secretary General Rune Rafaelsen.
As the MFA continues to increase the annual funds for the Norwegian Barents Secretariat, Rafaelsen sees this as a clear sign of the ministry’s belief in the secretariat at its staff. It is also an acknowledgment of the the Barents program’s contribution in strengthening the ties between Norwegians and Russians.
In addition to the annual funding of the Barents Secretariat’s main project funding program, MFA has also granted 375.000 EUR to the Culture program BarentsKult. BarentsKult was launched last year and is aimed at supporting larger art- and culture projects in the Norwegian and Russian part of the Barents Region.
Seed money fund
The Norwegian Barents Secretariat also sees the need for a strengthened regional business cooperation. One plan is to establish a seed money fund for Norwegian-Russian business cooperation.
− When the development of the Shtokman gas field starts, it will turn everything upside-down in this region. Norwegian enterprises must be ready for this development. The platform established through 16 years of Barents Cooperation is an excellent base for strengthening Norwegian participation in the development, says Rafaelsen.
