Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, and Embla Eir Oddsdóttir, Director of the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (IACN), have signed a renewed five-year cooperation agreement, extending their partnership until the end of 2031.

Elín Díanna Gunnarsdóttir, Pro-Rector of the University of Akureyri, Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Embla Eir Oddsdóttir, Director of the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (IACN) and Hlynur Guðjónsson, Director of the Arctic Affairs Department at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Iceland’s Senior Arctic Official.

The agreement reinforces IACN’s role as a key partner of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and recognises the network’s development from a national platform for cooperation and information-sharing into an active participant in Arctic projects, both in Iceland and internationally.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Akureyri, the Minister emphasised that IACN’s strength lies in the knowledge and connections found in the region, as well as its ability to bring together academia, municipalities, businesses, government bodies and civil society organisations.

Under the renewed agreement, IACN will focus on four principal areas:

• Supporting Iceland’s participation in the work of the Arctic Council.
• Strengthening national consultation and cooperation on Arctic affairs while increasing awareness of the region’s importance in Iceland and internationally.
• Further developing Akureyri as Iceland’s centre for Arctic affairs, in cooperation with interested parties throughout the country and in accordance with Iceland’s 2021 Arctic Policy.
• Carrying out selected assignments for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, including work related to international and Nordic cooperation as well as domestic Arctic initiatives.

IACN was established in 2013 as a centre for Arctic research and a platform connecting organisations and individuals working on Arctic issues. Since its establishment, it has received core government funding through operational agreements with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

Halldór Jóhannsson, Executive Director of Arctic Portal, was among the founders of IACN and has contributed to the development of Arctic cooperation and knowledge-sharing in Akureyri and internationally. Arctic Portal welcomes the renewal of the agreement and the continued recognition of Akureyri’s important role as a centre for Arctic expertise, cooperation and outreach.

The signing ceremony brought together representatives from a range of Arctic-related institutions based in Akureyri, reflecting the town’s important and growing role as a centre for Arctic knowledge and cooperation. Among those attending were the Mayor of Akureyri, representatives of the University of Akureyri and members of organisations working across Arctic research, policy, education and international collaboration.

Learn more about the Icelandic Arctic Cooperation Network (IACN).

Photos: Arctic Portal.org

Source: Stjórnarráð Íslands