Ambassador's official visit to Nova Scotia

11.4.2006

During his stay in Nova Scotia April 5^th to 9^th, the Ambassador of Iceland to Canada had talks with the Lt. Governor and several Ministers in the Nova Scotia government as well as the Mayor of Halifax. He also met with management of Halifax Airport and journalists. Visits to Icelandic firms and meetings with Icelandic business people in Halifax were also on the agenda of the Ambassador Antonsson’s visit.

Two Icelandic banks, Glitnir and Landsbanki, are opening representative offices in Halifax this month. Several Icelandic

firms within fish processing and related activities are now firmly established in Nova Scotia.

The Ambassador and his wife invited representatives from the Icelandic companies and Canadian guests to a reception held at the Halifax Club.

It is clear, that Icelandair’s transatlantic air link operated from Halifax for a few years until cancelled in 2001, contributed greatly to the economy of Nova Scotia. It facilitated general an easy public travel to and from destinations in Europe, including Iceland. Icelandic tourists flocked to Halifax and were very welcome guests there. There is now a strong lobby for this air link to be restored.

The Ambassador pointed out that Icelandair had not enjoyed a favourable business climate during its operations to Halifax, being subject to unbending rules that seemed to be set primarily to restrict competition with Air Canada. Icelandair is now operating a weekly cargo flight from Iceland to Halifax and wishes to add another one to its schedule. This has now to be applied for on a case by case basis long in advance.

The Ambassador and his wife attended the annual general meeting of the Friends of Iceland in Nova Scotia, where he gave a speech and a visual presentation of images from Iceland. Before returning to Ottawa they also attended a board meeting of the Scandinavian Society of Nova Scotia.