Anchorage, Alaska – Representatives of Inuit businesses, economic development corporations, and governments from Canada, Greenland, Alaska and Chukotka, Russia attending an economic summit in Anchorage concluded the meeting with agreement to pursue closer cooperation across the circumpolar region.
The summit was facilitated by the Inuit Circumpolar Council as mandated by the 2014 Kitigaaryuit Declaration which called on ICC to convene a Circumpolar Inuit Business Development Summit to explore potential collaboration among Inuit businesses and to share experiences.
Jim Stotts, President of ICC Alaska and summit host, opened the meeting by noting that “with the tremendous and growing interest in the Arctic it is time to gather together and discuss options for how Inuit businesses might take the next step – the step across borders”.
Participants heard from experts in the fields of hydrocarbon, air and marine transportation, mining, telecommunications and investment about the current status and future potential for development in the Arctic. Delegates from each country shared information about the many existing businesses in their respective regions and identified areas of potential international cooperation. Verner Hammeken, CEO of Greenland’s Royal Arctic Line eloquently stated “as the Arctic transforms, so the Arctic will transform the world”.
Recognizing that Inuit businesses have been actively developing Arctic economies with positive results and with a goal to advance aspirations both at home and across international borders, delegates to the summit agreed to action to move forward in unity. It was agreed to establish a task force comprised of two members from each country to take steps towards the creation of an International Inuit Business Council to cultivate business collaboration across the circumpolar Arctic.
ICC Chair Okalik Eegeesiak was pleased with the outcome of the summit and stated that, “This is the time to reimagine the economies of the arctic from the Inuit perspective for Inuit by Inuit. inclusive in our approach to sustainable business development in Inuit Nunaat.”
For further information, contact:
Clint Davis: clint.davis@acastacapital.com Carole Simon: csimon@inuitcircumpolar.com Hjalmar Dahl: hjalmar@inuit.org
Kelly Eningowuk: kelly@iccalaska.org