Ladies and gentlemen,
It is an honor for me to open the North Atlantic Fish Fair 2011 here in the town of fishing industry, Klaksvík.
The last fairs have been successful and well visited; they have put the necessary focus on the seafood industry with an international atmosphere. This is important for our country and our international partners. I am confident that this fair, again this year, will support and lay the foundations for further growth and development in our industry, which is the main source of income for the Faroe Islands.
I would especially like to welcome the foreign visitors to the Faroe Islands for the North Atlantic Fish Fair. I hope you will all have a good stay in our country, and in Klaksvík. I wish you all good luck with your business, and expect the fair to lead to many win-win situations and agreements.
This fair states the importance of people having personal contacts – people talking face to face, sharing experiences and opinions. Strategic networks create values and growth. This is an event where one can make those contacts, both international and national.
I do have many good memories from Klaksvík during my two years as sales manager at Kósin Seafood. These were some of my best years in seafood industry. I made many contacts, learnt from others, and got a significant insight into the seafood industry and the mentality here in Klaksvík.
Great challenges and opportunities lay in the seafood industry. Sustainable fishery is on top of every agenda, and to do nothing is not an option. In other words: failure is not an option.
Sustainable fishery is not a choice anymore, but a necessity. It is not just about the advice given by the Faroe Marine Research Institute and the ICES. It is also the costumer, who decides whether to buy non-sustainable caught fish or not. This situation puts demands on the seafood industry and sets focus on innovation.
Innovation is the key if we want to make it in the international competition, and is one of the foundations for a strong economy.
It is good to see that so many of our friends at the North Atlantic Fish Fair are the people that make new solutions and create growth for the industry and countries. Hopefully this North Atlantic Fish Fair in Klaksvík will create innovative solutions and make contacts across borders.
The North Atlantic Fish Fair will once again shed light on the best of what seafood-related businesses in the North Atlantic have to offer, both in North Atlantic and world-wide.
With these words the North Atlantic Fish Fair 2011 is open.
Thank you!