Future Greenland: Conference day 2 – May 10
At the second the day of the conference, Martin Breum opened the conference with a presentation of the program of the day. The key note speakers of the day were:
– Torben M. Andersen, professor, Aarhus University, Chairman of the Economic Council
– Minik Rosing, geologist, professor, Copenhagen University
– Kuupik Kleist, consultant
– Lars Storr-Hansen, Managing Director, Danish Construction Association
– Doris Jakobsen, Minister for Education, Culture, Research and the Church
– Helene Høj, Consultant, Danish Construction Association
– Torben Möger Pedersen, Managing Director, PensionDenmark
Among the keynote speakers was the chairman of Greenland’s Economic Council, professor Torben M. Andersen. He did not try to conceal that several challenges have to be addressed before development and growth can be created, some of which were the lack of structure and stability.
Minik Rosing presented his idea on a Greenlandic research- and innovation hub, where municipalities, the government, businesses and universities cooperate. Rosing further noted that the idea was not new, instead he focused on the idea being supported by many different stakeholders and he thought the hub could be ready for the new Future Greenland.
As the first day of the conference, the schedule on the second day consisted of several workshops. These four workshops consisted of:
‘Construction planning in Greenland. Recommendations and implementation of the construction conference’, ‘Primary schools, teacher training and vocational training – a national plan of action’, ‘The mining industry’s encounter with Greenland – what can be improved?’ as well as ‘A business policy strategy – Recommendations from Future Greenland 2017’.
The workshops were followed by a panel debate with Doris Jakobsen, Minister for Education, Culture, Research and the Church, National Parliamentary Committee for Education, Mayors, Asii Chemnitz Narup, Major Kommuneqarfik Sermersooq, Ane Hansen, Major Qaasuitsoq Kujalleq, Jørgen Wæver Johansen, Chair Erhvervs- og Arbejdsmarkedsudvalget, Kommune Kujalleq, as well as Evelyn Frederiksen, Qeqqata.
The day’s program also consisted of a Pitch Show on ‘Tourism Boost 2017’, which Sermersooq Business Council had organized. It was possible for the participants at Future Greenland to cast their vote on one of four candidates to win the Pitch Show. The winner was creator of the concept ‘Nuuk Wellness’, Mette Willumsen, who sought to promote winter bathing all year round.Du kan læse mere om Pitch Showet her.
Brian Buss, director of Greenland Business Association, ended the conference by thanking all the presenters and highlighted aspects he thought of as particularly interesting. Afterwards, the lobby of Katuaq was filled with all participants of the conference, who enjoyed a glass of wine and last possibility for networking.
