– Of course we are disappointed and amazed. It does not seem that the government understands how serious the problems are, says port manager Terje Jørgensen to Dagbladet.
The Port of Kirkenes was first informed that Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støe had set aside 15 minutes for them, ahead of an evening meeting.
– A few days before, the meeting was only deleted from the program. He still did not have time. Then we tried to get a meeting with the Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Bjørnar Skjæran, who was going to Kirkenes, says Jørgensen.
“Disaster”
– But Skjæran did not have time either. We were then promised a Teams meeting with him. Instead, it was Secretary of State Kristine Hansen who appeared. She did not seem to understand our problems. She referred us to the Norwegian Coastal Administration, says harbor master Jørgensen.
The cornerstone companies in Kirkenes live with uncertainty and the prospect of major economic challenges, if Russian fishing vessels are banned from Norwegian ports.
At the same time, the border town is struggling with relocation.
Kenneth Stålsett, general manager of Sør-Varanger Utvikling, has previously been in Dagbladet described the situation as a disaster for the local community.
Stålsett fears that the intellectual capital – those who are well educated, those who have special competence and those who have sought-after vocational education will leave Kirkenes.
Paradox
The red-green government has implemented measures and schemes, which will help Sør-Varanger municipality and East Finnmark.
– None of the government’s support schemes for East Finnmark are available to us, says Jørgensen.
The fear in Sør-Varanger is that the Russian fishing boats will now be banned from Norwegian ports. Furthermore, the fear is that the consequence will be that central cornerstone companies and a large number of small and medium-sized companies will lose a large part of their turnover.
AMBITIONS: The Port of the Churches has great ambitions. The picture is from last autumn, before the war in Ukraine, when the Norwegian coastguard ship «KV Nordkapp» and the Russian coastguard ship «Poljarnaja Zvezda» (right) lay side by side in the harbor in Kirkenes. Photo: Gunnar Sætra / Sør-Varanger Avis / NTB
sea view
Will bet
– It is urgent to find alternative markets for the business community in Sør-Varanger. The port of the churches will play a central role in this work. In December 2021, two months before the outbreak of the war, we adopted an ambitious investment in several new industries. With “Kirkenes – where Lappland meets the Arctic Ocean” as the working title, we try to establish Kirkenes as a cruise port, says the harbor master.
– “Kirkenes – the arctic port of Finland” is another promising initiative where we aim to become an important port for freight traffic to and from Finland. After tensions in the Baltic Sea have increased and Finland is likely to join NATO, the realism of this measure has been strengthened.
BIG PLANS: – If we get help from the authorities, we can create jobs and activity, says harbor master Terje Jørgensen. Photo: Ole Berg-Rusten / NTB
sea view
Jørgensen also points out that there is a dialogue with Norwegian, Finnish, Chinese and other actors to establish activity from Asia through the Northeast Passage.
Disappointed
– Our future is very uncertain, revenues are reduced. We need help from the state to design the measures needed to get started with the new activities, says the harbor master.
The Port of Kirkenes met the Storting’s Transport and Communications Committee when they visited Storskog – the border crossing to Russia.
– But we do not get access to members of the government with our important message. It is disappointing that the current government does not take the challenges in Kirkenes seriously enough, to set aside time to hear what it takes for Kirkenes harbor to open completely new industries in Sør-Varanger, says harbor master Terje Jørgensen.
“A lot to do”
Political adviser Emma Svarva Giskås at the Prime Minister’s office explains that Jonas Gahr Støre had a lot to do.
– The Prime Minister had a tight schedule when he was in Kirkenes, and unfortunately there was no time to meet Kirkenes harbor.
– But the Prime Minister is well acquainted with this issue and the other challenges the Kirkenes community faces, through dialogue with both the mayor and the business community, says Emma Svarva Giskås.
Minister of Fisheries Skjæran says he understands very well that there are demanding times in Kirkenes and East Finnmark.
NO TIME: – Minister of Fisheries Bjørnar Skjæran did not have time for us either, says harbor master Terje Jørgensen. Photo: Terje Pedersen / NTB
sea view
– The government has strengthened the district-oriented instruments. At the Norwegian Coastal Administration, we have also strengthened the subsidy scheme for investments in efficient and environmentally friendly ports that you can assess whether you benefit from, says Skjæran.
– We try as best we can to be available when there are tough roofs. Both I, the Minister of Trade and Industry and the Minister of Finance have been to Kirkenes this spring.
– We have met both the municipality, business actors and business organizations. We listen to people in East Finnmark and are keen to help find good solutions for the region, says Minister of Fisheries and Maritime Affairs Bjørnar Skjæran.
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