SAO Chair Patrick Borbey visits Tromsø and the Arctic Council Secretariat

Patrick Borbey and his team arrived on Monday afternoon and were treated to an intensive program on Tuesday. After meeting with the Director of the Arctic Council Secretariat Magnús Jóhannesson and his staff the Canadian Chairmanship team went on to meet with Jan Gunnar Winther, Director of the Norwegian Polar Institute as well as Jarle Aarbakke, Rector of the University of Tromsø. In the afternoon Mr. Borbey also met with Espen Barth Eide, Norway's Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Salman Khurshid, India’s Minister of External Affairs.

The visit culminated in a reception in the evening hosted by the Norwegian Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The reception was held to celebrate the recent opening of the Standing Arctic Council Secretariat in Tromsø. Prominent political and academic figures from Tromsø were in attendance and expressed their gratitude for the placement of the secretariat. Mr. Borbey expressed his appreciation to everyone in Tromsø and Oslo who have contributed to the successful establishment of the Arctic Council Secretariat. He also used the opportunity to present some of Arctic Council Chair Minister Leona Aglukkaq’s plans and priorities for the Canadian Chairmanship.

The first Senior Arctic Officials’ Meeting during the Canadian Chairmanship will be held 21-23 October in Whitehorse in Northern Canada.

View a video interview with Patrick Borbey on the Canadian Chairmanship priorities.