Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap), Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum (Sp) and SV leader Kirsti Bergstø today presented an activity package totaling NOK 105 million for Eastern Finnmark. The funds will facilitate jobs and a good offer for people in Eastern Finnmark. The consequences of Russia’s war against Ukraine have hit people and business in Eastern Finnmark hard. And the government wants to do something about that. – Activity in Eastern Finnmark is of security policy importance for the whole country. There is a lot of important expertise in the region that we must preserve and develop, says Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum says that Finnmark and Eastern Finnmark are a strategically important part of the country in terms of national control. – This package will give the local community the necessary support to build lasting activity and security for people and workplaces, says SV leader Kirsti Bergstø. SV leader Kirsti Bergstø says that the financial package will create security in Eastern Finnmark. Photo: William Jobling / news Possible solution for Kimek It has been a week since the cornerstone company Kimek, in Sør-Varanger, received signals that they can complete the two Russian fishing vessels that are in for repairs at the shipyard. They had warned of mass redundancies if they had to end work on the fishing vessels, following the government’s “reminder” to follow the sanctions regulations – which only allow emergency repairs on fishing vessels. The Prime Minister says that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will give Kimek good and clear answers during the day. Greger Mannsverk, general manager of Kimek, said before the press conference that he had not heard anything from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the last three weeks. The sanctions against Russia mean that Kimek has to make major adjustments. 70 percent of the company’s turnover comes from the Russian fishing fleet in the Barents Sea. One year ago, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre visited the Kimek shipyard. Now the company has to make major changes to avoid breaking the sanctions regulations. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB Measures for business development The government says that it has spoken with local authorities, the parties in working life and business in Eastern Finnmark to find the right measures. Industry Minister Jan Christian Vestre says that there is great potential for both restructuring and development in the region. – Therefore, we will immediately strengthen the municipal business fund, provide risk loans to companies that want to restructure and contribute to East Finnmark being able to develop business areas and facilitate new investments, says Vestre. The agreement consists of a number of measures that will help to strengthen business, preserve and develop new jobs and strengthen infrastructure. This includes the activity package for Eastern Finnmark: Maintain intensive care, Finnmark hospital, Kirkenes (NOK 15 million) Strengthen business-oriented instruments and municipal industry funds (NOK 20 million) Strengthen municipal planning (NOK 3 million) Funds for KILA – Kirkenes Industrial Logistics Area ( NOK 8 million) Mapping and preparation of marine base maps in Sør-Varanger (NOK 3 million) Strengthening the coverage of high-speed broadband (NOK 5 million) More R&D workplaces at the Norwegian Institute for Bioeconomy’s unit in Pasvik (NOK 3 million) Expertise funds and study places (NOK 5 million) Strengthen schemes for risk loans under Innovation Norway earmarked for Eastern Finnmark (NOK 20 million and increased loan limit) Culture: Strengthen the artists’ company Pikene på broen i Kirkenes (NOK 2 million) Renovation of the pool at Pasvik folk high school ( NOK 11 million) Cleaning up Bugøynes (NOK 10 million) – This package will give the local community the necessary support to build up lasting activity and security for people and workplaces, says SV leader Kirsti Bergstø. Must ensure value creation in times of crisis Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram said during the presentation of the Chief of Defense’s professional military advice on 7 June that it is important for Norway that people live in Finnmark, and especially in Eastern Finnmark. The Minister of Defense believes that one must ensure value creation and activity in times of crisis. – This is important, and therefore the government attaches great importance to looking at how we can even more strongly support development in Eastern Finnmark, Gram said during the press conference.
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