Eye on the Arctic brings you stories and newsmakers from across the North
Last week, we looked at how Canada was doing half-way into it’s Arctic Council chairmanship.
This week, we look at how its business focus is being viewed by those in Arctic regions outside of Canada.
Timo Rautajoki is the head of the Chamber of Commerce in Finland’s Arctic Lapland province. He says he welcomes the focus on economic development put forward by Canada, and specifically the Arctic Economic Council that’s being put in place.
But, concerns remain about how the balance between Arctic business and big multinational corporations will be struck, he says.
“From the Lapland point of view the most important thing is that the Arctic Economic Council does not become a club of giant companies like Exxon and Gazprom and Rosneft, but that small and medium sized companies from the region are also represented there.”
“It’s very important for all of us living in the Arctic area that our companies are involved in these big projects.”
To find out more, Eye on the Arctic’s Eilís Quinn reached Timo Rautajoki in Finland:
ListenQuick Facts
Arctic Council Members: Canada, Denmark (Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, United States
Year formed: 1996
Current Chair (2013-1015): Canada
Next Chair (2015-2017): United States
For more on Canada and the Arctic Council, visit Eye on the Arctic’s special section
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