Cabinet ministers from Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands will visit Scotland next week for a summit on the challenges facing northern nations.
Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson, Iceland’s minister for foreign affairs, Doris Jakobsen Jensen, Greenland’s minister for education, culture, research and church and Poul Michelsen, Faroe Islands’ minister of foreign affairs and trade will speak at Scotland’s first ever Arctic Circle Forum.
The three-day conference in Edinburgh starts on Sunday and will focus on international experiences of helping remote and island communities become successful and resilient.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will open the event, which will also be addressed by the chairman of the UK Committee on Climate Change, Lord Deben, and Scottish External Affairs Secretary Fiona Hyslop.
Ms Hyslop said: “In the face of common global challenges, it is all the more important Scotland forms close relationships with like-minded nations, demonstrating leadership on the key issues we face. That is why I am delighted Scotland will host the Arctic Circle Forum.
“From Iceland’s tourism success story to Scotland’s leading expertise in low carbon energy solutions, there are huge benefits to be had by sharing our experiences, learning from one another and developing new partnerships.
“How we empower and safeguard remote and island communities is a shared challenge across the wider Arctic region. With experts from the worlds of academia and business, alongside representatives from governments, corporations and NGOs, the forum is sure to be a hotbed for innovation and ideas.”