Business life, Working life | This group draws the world to Northern Norway: – Great opportunities for increased value creation

Future business in Northern Norway must be sustainable, climate-friendly and in line with global development in order to be competitive. That’s what the organizers behind the Gaia Arctic Summit conference, which has brought together top international experts on climate change, say.

– If Northern Norway manages to be at the forefront of the green shift, great opportunities will open up for increased value creation. When actors such as the World Bank and the European Commission choose to come here, it says something about the attractiveness we have, says Mona Slått Olsen, head of banking industry at Sparebank1 Nord-Norge.

She believes the Gaia Arctic Summit represents a unique opportunity for Northern Norwegian leaders in the private and public sector to engage directly with global thinkers and decision-makers.

– It can strengthen our regional value creation, she believes.

A hub

The conference, chaired by Haddy N’jie, will act as a hub for northern Norwegian business leaders, politicians, researchers and thinkers to find solutions to create climate-robust societies and businesses.

The Gaia Arctic Summit is the result of collaboration between a number of key players, including Sparebank 1 Nord-Norge, Andfjord Salmon, Nordic Circular Hotspot, Museum Nord, SINTEF, RESIST (EU-funded research project), Deadline, Vesterål Council, and Gaia Vesterålen.

– That so many people collaborate on this underlines the broad commitment to sustainable development in the region, says Ane Høyem, project manager at Gaia Vesterålen.

Proud

Odd Are Svensen, head of research at Sintef Digital adds:

– We are already seeing the inevitable effects of climate change in the world. This affects individuals, businesses and public organisations.

He believes that the business leaders in Troms and Nordland have a fantastic opportunity to take a position in the green shift we are now facing.

– Sintef is proud to work with so many good partners in Northern Norway, he says.