Murmansk and Finnmark define cooperation priorities

Murmansk region and its neighbouring county of Norway signed a memo on cooperation priorities for 2013-2015.

Wednesday, the Governor of the Murmansk region Marina Kovtun and Governor of Finnmark Runar Sjåstad signed a new cooperation document based on "Declaration on the Principles of Relations between the Russian Federation and the Kingdom of Norway" (as of March 26, 1996) and the Agreement on establishment of friendly relations between the Murmansk region and Finnmark area (as of 16 September 1988).

The memo states that relations between Russia and Norway have been developing “progressively and successfully” while it is also advisable to “expand positive development on regional levels”.

- Over the years we have improved our relations from partnership to friendship; and we are interested in their further development, - said Kovtun.

- If the cooperation had not been beneficial for the two sides, then we would not have been able to achieve this goal, underlined Sjåstad.

The updated list of cooperation priorities goes around promotion of SMEs in the border areas. There is also a plan to go for a joint project in Teriberka aiming to improve its social and economic situation. The priority list goes further to declare plans for establishment of oil-and-gas clusters, development of aquaculture and coastal fishery.

Regarding infrastructural developments, Murmansk and Finnmark underlined their intentions to establish new sea and air routes, upgrade roads, install a fiber cable between two areas, and develop existing bus services that connect Murmansk and Finnmark.

Runar Sjåstad [pictured] is a member of the Labour Party. He has been at power in the Finnmark Government since 2007.