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Barents Entrepreneur of the Year award went to Sweden
The Barents region entrepreneur 2010 was awarded in Haparanda. The first prize from the IKEA’s founder Ingvar Kamprad was given to Love Rynbäck who runs the company in the municipality of Boden in Sweden, the Finnish newspaper Pohjolan Sanomat reports.
Haparanda Declaration on EU agenda
The Swedish Infrastructure Minister Åsa Torstensson has presented the Haparanda declaration to the transport ministers of the European Union at the Council meeting in Luxembourg, the press release of the Swedish government reports.
- At last week's Nordic and Baltic ministers’ meeting in Haparanda we agreed on a declaration for further development of transport in the Northern Dimension. The key partner in this work is EU and therefore it was a very good signal for me to have time to present the Declaration of Haparanda during the Ministerial Council. The response I received from the other ministers was very good, says the Swedish Minister of Infrastructure Asa Torstensson.
Narvik giving a clear message to the IKEA founder Ingvar Kamprad
- We were so lucky to meet Ingvar Kamprad and IKEA's logistics manager Johannes Stenberg and have a conversation. We got the chance to speak about the opportunities that Narvik can offer, said Mayor Karen M. Kuvaas. Newspaper Avisa Nordland reports that it was in connection with the Barents Reunion conference that Narvik Mayor met IKEA owner and gave the clear message that the city is ready to place the department store there.
Russian delegation's photos from Haparanda
The delegation of Russian entrepreneurs at the Barents Reunion's convention this year presented the tourism and creative industries' branches from Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions. Now they have published some photos about their visit to Haparanda and work at barents Reunion's annual convention.
Barents Reunion's Annual convention 2010 in media
This year the annual convention in Haparanda got a broad media coverage. Here are some links to the articles, tv and radio stories and on-line publications about Barents Reunion and the events around it.
READ MORE
Date for the next convention is decided
The Barents Reunion:s governing board has decided that the Annual convention 2011 will take place on 16-17 of June, 2011.
PRESS RELEASE 2010-06-16
Love Rynbäck — Entrepreneur of the Year in Barents 2010!
In connection with the Barents Reunion convent, now under way in Haparanda, the award ” Entrepreneur of the Year in Barents” was presented for the first time. Nominations of candidates have taken place on the Barents Reunion web page during spring. Out of some twenty nominees from four countries, the jury picked Love Rynbäck – owner and CEO of CreActive Adventure AB. Today, he received a diploma and
5 000 Euros from the initiator of Barents Reunion, Ikea founder Ingvar Kamprad.
The jury has taken the following criteria into consideration:
• The Candidate must be an active entrepreneur living and working in the Barents Regionen.
• The Candidate must in some way use the advantages offered by the region, including cross-border contact.
• The Candidate must have been active at least three years and during that period showed inventiveness and true entrepreneurship.
• The Candidate must serve as a good example for other businessmen.
The jury has primarily looked at candidates within the theme of this year’s Barents Reunion convent: ”Tourism and creative business.”
This is how the jury motivates the choice of Love Rynbäck as Entrepreneur of the Year.
Love Rynbäck has created and leads an adventure and event company, CreActive Adventures, with a name that sends a clear signal to its clients about what it has to offer. The company presents a wide range of acitivities that truly invite to creativity and adventure.
The company is active throughout the year, making smart use of the possibilities offered by nature during every season.
The company is seeking clients with an active interest in adventure and nature. With its activities it encourages people to discover and enjoy our fantastic nature.
Love and his company has created a network within the tourist business in the whole Barents region. He sees no borders between countries, only opportunities to work together across borders.
Together with his able associates, Love Rynbäck sets an example for how to build a tourist company based on activities and adventure in the North. It can become a success story contributing to growth and development of entrepreneurship and quality of life in Lapland and Barents.
With more than 16 years’ experience, Love is responsible for expeditions all year round. He has a clear focus on his clients and he is more comfortable with his guests in nature, than sitting at home in the office.
At a press conference after the award ceremony, Ingvar Kamprad said that he was impressed by the entrepreneurship and inventiveness represented by Love Rynbäck.
- I really hope that his example will serve as inspiration for others to dare to invest in their own, creative ideas. The whole meaning behind the ”Entrepreneur of the Year” award is to spread ideas across borders in Barents and to show that there is a future for entrepreneurship and creative thinking in the region.
- The meaning is that Love’s great creativity will be carried over to others. He must now find and inspire another person as mentor. Hopefully that means another worthy candidate for next year’s award.
The Annual Convention of Barents Reunion
2010 in Haparanda Tornio
Download the programme here:
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We also proudly present:
Dance and Performance Festival
happening during
the convention 2010
in Haparanda
starting 16th of June at 12 pm. at the town square
To open an east-west transportation corridor
- We need to re-draw the mental maps and thinking in an east-west direction. It says the Swedish Minister of Infrastructure Åsa Torstensson during her visit to Haparanda, newspaper Kuriren reports.
Sven-Erik Bucht: "The tourists do not see borders as obstacles. It is interesting for them to cross the borders. And that is why it is important for the tourist companies to have a cross-border cooperation".
Interview in English with Mayor of Haparanda Sven-Erik Bucht, where he speaks about Barents Reunion's annual Convention, the tourist attractions and importance to attract bigger tourist companies to to the Barents region.
Mayor of Tornio Raimo Ronkainen: We need more companies working over the borders
Read Raimo Ronkainen's interview in English, where he speaks about the Barents Entrepreneur of the Year award and the development of the tourism industry in Tornio-Haparanda as well as in the whole Barents region.
TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE DEADLINE!!!
The number of nominees for the Barents Entrepreneur of the Year - 2010 award is now 13. You can get acquainted to the nominees HERE. The interest to the vent is constantly growing, and Barents Reunion's Governing Board has decided to extend the deadline for the nominations to April 30th.
HOW TO NOMINATE? CLICK HERE
GO DIRECTLY TO THE APPLICATION FORM.
Barents Centre Finland starts in Rovaniemi
Barents Centre Finland Company was founded 7th April 2010 in Rovaniemi to serve Finnish companies, organizations and regional developers in questions related to Barents region, Barents Observer reports.
Deadline for Barents Entrepreneur 2010 is extended
The Barents Reunion governing board decides to extend the deadline for the Barents Entrepreneur nominations to April 30th. It was done to let more companies working in the branches of tourism and creative industries nominate candidates to this prise. The winner will be granted 5 000 euros during the Barents Reunion annual Convention in Haparanda 16-17 of June. So far Barents Reunion has already received 9 nominations for the Entrepreneur of the Year.
Read more about how to nominate HERE
Fill in the nomination form HERE
Finland wants Arctic railway
A new study, evaluating the prospects of an Arctic railway from Rovaniemi in northern Finland to the North-Norway coastal town of Kirkenes, shows a large potential. The estimates conclude that there could be a market for up to 40 daily trains from Finland to the Barents Sea coast, Barents Observer reports.
Visit Sapmi will improve Sami tourism
There are not so many large Sami tourism companies although the Sami culture has always been a source to attract tourists in northern Sweden. But now the newly opened Sami tourism organisation Visit Sapmi will support to develope the Sami tourism.
Watch the news story produced by SVT Nordnytt.
Swedish companies work in Russia, but them should be more
Russia is really a huge market for Swedish companies. Here is a Russian middle class with high purchasing power and the need for investments in Russia is very high. But both exports and direct investments are relatively small, Swedish Television reports as Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt was meeting Russian President Dmitry Medvedev in Moscow.
Fewer foreign tourists to Finland
The number of foreign tourists who spent the night in Finland fell by nine per cent in January compared with a year earlier. The decline is due mainly to the fact that a number of tourists from Russia has decreased. About half of all tourists to Finland come from its eastern neighbor, Finnish YLE reports.
Promoting women's entrepreneurship in 2010
Promoting women's entrepreneurship program aimed at increasing employment and economic growth by more women starting and running businesses. The projects receiving support will help more businesses run by women develop and grow, increasing the number of new businesses among women and more women choosing to run the company on the full-time positions or employ personnel, the Norrbotten's County Board reports.
Barents Bar re-opens in Murmansk
The most notorious meeting place for foreigners in Murmansk changed its owners. There was held an opening of an upgraded Barents Bar, an informal meeting place for both idle travellers and businessmen (mostly Norwegian), Barentsnova reports.
The Fair for the newly established companies and entrepreneurs was held in Haparanda
It became a good possibility for the young companies to demonstarte itselves as well as get acuainted to the support offered to the newly established entrepreneurs in Haparanda. Watch the reportage produced by SVT Nordytt. (The story is in Swedish)
Can travel freely across the border
The introduction of the “cross-border ID” will namely in a year allow most of the residents of Sør-Varanger and the Russian border municipality of Petchenga to travel freely in the border zone. Norwegian NRK reports that the agreement, which allows the cross-border ID, will be signed when Russian President Medvedev visits Oslo in spring.
The prise for the Entrepreneur of the Year in the Barents region is appointed
This summer the third Barents Reunion Convention will take place. Its theme is Creative Industries. The news is that the Entrepreneur of the year in the Barents region will be selected. The prize is 5000 euros, Norrbottens Kuriren reports.
Press conference on the Internet
The Barents Reunion governing board had invited all media and anybody who is interested in Barents Reunion and Barents Region to pres conference in Haparanda. The participants were: Raimo Ronkanen, mayor of Tornio; Sven-Erik Bucht, mayor of Haparanda; Christina Lugnet, Director of the Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth.
Download and watch the press conference held on Friday, February 26.
Significant increase in tourism consumption in Sweden in 2008
Total tourist consumption in Sweden increased in 2008 by 6,3 percent. Between 2000 and 2008, total tourism consumption in Sweden has increased more than 50 percent in current prices, The Swedish Agency for Economic and Regional Growth (Tillväxtverket) reports.
Direct bus route from Hammerfest to Murmansk
The 4th of March Finnmark turbuss starts its direct bus line between Hammerfest and Murmansk. The route will be connected to other bus routes and will tie the east and west of the county together in a new way. - This route will tear down the invisible Berlin Wall that now stands on Børselv mountains between East and West Finnmark, says Bjorn Angell at Finnmark turbuss to newspaper Ságat.
Svanstein invests heavily in ski tourism
The half billion investments are to make Svanstein one of the Sweden’s top tourist destinations. Several hotels and restaurants are planned to be built; cottage plots are now released for sale. Since the new owners took over Svanstein ski and Svanstein Manor, great efforts have been spent on renovating the main ski area, newspaper Kuriren reports.
The world's largest sauna is being built in Haparanda
200 bathers should have place to bath. And it will be snowing in the sauna. 50 million kronas costs the sauna building, and it should also have a relaxation area, SVT Nordnytt reports.
Economic crisis hits Santa Claus
Santa Claus Village in Rovaniemi is experiencing a downfall in the number of visitors. The number of Christmas charters to airports in Northern Finland is falling to the level where it was in 2004, Barents Observer reports.
The whole world in Tromsø
Conference "International Arena" was held in Tromsø. The event was a huge success, with over 100 participants from various companies and organizations. The conference was a collaboration between Innovation Norway in Troms and Troms Chamber of commerce. International opportunities for northern Norwegian companies were the main focus, and the Nordic and national gurus within the global trends of research, cultural understanding and international markets contributed to the inspiration and the key knowledge related to the success abroad. Exciting business case was also presented, the website of Troms Chamber of commerce reports.
Vardø is the least business-friendly municipality in Norway
Vardø is the municipality in Norway where it is least attractive to move to, and where profitability and growth is lowest. There is nothing good about the business in Vardø. It appears in a poll conducted submitted by NHO, Norwegian Enerprise Confederation. Vardø scores poorly, both in terms of attractiveness and the growth and profitability of the business. When it comes to business start-ups, they do a little better, NRK Troms og Finnmark reports.
Governor of Arkhangelsk Oblast Ilya Mikhailchuk believes that the administration for the Northern Sea Route will be located in Arkhangelsk.
- I think it is only a question of time when the Northern Sea Route will be administrated from Arkhangelsk, Governor Mikhailchuk told news agency Rosbalt. - The Northeast passage starts from this region, and therefore it is natural that the operating company’s administration is located here, Barents Observer reports.
Maud Olofsson presented the priorities during the Swedish presidency of the Barents Euro-Arctic Council
Deputy Prime Minister Maud Olofsson has unveiled at the ceremony in the Swedish Parliament the priorities during the Swedish presidency of the Barents Council, 2009-2011 (The Barents Euro-Arctic Council), the press-release of the Swedish Government reports.
Finland and Archangelsk Forge Stronger Ties
During the export promotion trip of Minister Paavo Väyrynen, it was decided to organise a seminar that would explore cooperation in the forestry sector. The shipbuilding industry hopes for the development of joint production. Finnish companies see Russia a strategic opportunity, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen stated when opening the seminar to explore joint business cooperation in Archangelsk on 7 October, the press-release of the Finnish foreingn ministry reports.
A TV-team from Murmansk and Arkhangelsk
has been invited to attend the Annual Convention of Barents Reunion. Reporter Anastassia Yakonyuk (Murman TV, Murmansk) and cameraman Alexander Ivanov (Pomorie TV, Arkhangelsk) made their stories not only about the Convention, but about the events that took place in Haparanda in connection to Barents Reunion.
BP Forecasts Arctic Ocean Holds 200 Billion Barrels of Oil
BP Plc, Europe´s second-largest oil company, estimates that the Arctic Ocean may hold around 200 billion barrels of oil equivalent resources, or between quarter and half of the world´s hydrocarbons still to be discovered, www.blomberg.com reports.
The countries of the Barents region will be exchanging specialists
The annual Nordkalott conference took place in Murmansk. This time the topics for discussion have accumulated a lot. The employment experts from the Swedish, Finnish, Russian and Norwegian provinces discussed the difficulties during the financial crisis, Murman TV reports.
You can watch this story at Murman TV website.
The items for peace and cooperation in the Barents region
Barents region free from all types of chemical and nuclear weapons, with good communications and no visa requirements. It demand the participants of the Arctic peace and environment days, held in Luleå in the weekend, in a joint statement, newspaper Kuriren reports.
Ikea, Barents Reunion, environment
Environmental work in large and small scale is decisive for the future.
Now Ikea is challenging its customers in environmental awareness, newspaper NSD reports.
Sustainable Development of the Barents Region
The participants of this year´s Barents Reunion got valuable insights into what´s going on up north among specialists of energy and the environment. In other words, a feel for the situation for sustainable development in the Barents Region.
Ingvar Kamprad made his radio show
Ingvar Kamprad, Sweden's most famous person from Småland, became the host of the Summer radio program at the Swedish Radio´s P1.
PRESS INVITATION
Welcome to attend the second convention organized by the organization Barents Reunion, on the 25-26th of June, 2009 in Haparanda-Tornio.
Download Press Invitation >>
The War Opera in Haparanda
The premiere is approaching for the War Opera, the third part of Bengt Pohjanen's trilogy about the history of Tornedalen, newspaper Norrbottens Kuriren reports.
Direkt sänding från Konventet 25-26 juni 2009
FINNISH live broadcast from the Convention 25-26 June 2009
Live broadcast from the Convention 25-26 June 2009
FINNISH live broadcast from the Convention 25-26 June 2009
Live broadcast from the Convention 25-26 June 2009
Minister Visits Tornedalen
Currency and labor force were two issues discussed when the Swedish minister of trade Ewa Björling (M) launched a two-day visit to Tornedalens border areas together with her Finnish counterpart, Paavo Väyrynen, newspaper Norrbottens Kuriren reports.
The Finninsh Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen's Barents Strategy
The strategy and the related action aim to contribute to the Finnish company's success in the Barents Sea region markets, the Finnish broadcasting company YLE reports.
German tourists will come to Kiruna
90 representatives of the travel companies from Germany are on the way to the Swedish town of Kiruna to learn what the mining town has to offer the German travelers, Sveriges radio Norrbotten reports.
Murmansk Will Be a New Communication Hub
“Murmansk is a strategic important region both for us and for the country as a whole, deputy leader of Rostelecom", Stanislav Mirov says to news agency Regnum. The company has now completed the laying of a 1063 km long high-speed fiber cable from Petrozavodsk (Republic of Karelia) to Murmansk. The new cable has a 12,5 gigabyte capacity, writes Barents Observer.
Euromoney in Pajala?
The Liberal People's party (Folkpartiet) in Pajala, Sweden wants the Pajala municipality to become a euro-zone, Sveriges radio Norrbotten reports.
Norwegian Minister for Oil and Energy Terje Riis-Johansen has presented the new organization Norwegian Renewable Energy Partners, INTPOW.
The new organization is meant to improve coordination and communication between Norwegian and foreign companies within the renewable energy sector and make Norwegian energy industry more powerful internationally, reports Barents Observer.
Web TV
17-06-2010, Barents Reunion Annual Convention, Day 2: Short Summary
16-06-2010, Barents Reunion Annual Convention, Day 1: Short Summary
LOVE RYNBÄCK has been selected Barents Entrepreneur of the Year 2010 by the Barents Reunion's Governing Board.
Sven-Erik Bucht, Mayor of Haparanda: "The tourists do not see borders as obstacles. It is interesting for them to cross the borders. And that is why it is important for the tourist companies to have a cross-border cooperation".
After IKEA had come to Haparanda, about 100 small and medium-sized companies established themselves in the town. It has improved the social and business climate in the local community. The results of the scientific research are presented by Swedish Television.
Mayor of the Finnish city of Tornio Raimo Ronkainen speaks about the tourism cooperation in the Barents Region, the Barents Entrepreneur of the Year award and Barents Reunion annual Convention.
There are not so many large Sami tourism companies although the Sami culture has always been a source to attract tourists in northern Sweden.
Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev having a press conference during Fredrik Reinfeldt's visit to Moscow. A number of co-operation agreements between two countries had been signed before the press conference started.
Member of the Barents Reunion's governing board Malcolm Dixelius speaks about the nomination process for the Barents Entrepreneur of the Year award.
The Fair for the newly established companies and entrepreneurs was held in Haparanda. It became a good possibility for the young companies...
Christina Lugnet: "The theme of the Barents Reunion's Convention corresponds to the tasks of the Swedish Agency for Economical and Regional Growth". Fotograf: Michel McLain.
Malcolm Dixelius: "Ingvar Kamprad wants to see more articles at Ikea made and delivered by the local producers".
Knut Hamsun becomes a trademark for the Northern Norway, where the famous Norwegian author have lived and worked. Tourism is the main branch in the region that uses Hamsun and his creative heritage to attract the visitors from the whole world.
The first snow hotel in Russia was opened in Ustyansky district, in the south of Arkhangelsk oblast. Inside the hotel, which is made only of ice and snow, one can watch movies, have a wedding party or just spend the night. TV Pomorie reports about the first wedding arranged in the first Russian snow hotel. Attn! The report is in Russian.
The world's largest sauna is being built in Haparanda. 200 bathers should have place to bath. And it will be snowing in the sauna. 50 million kronas costs the sauna building, and it should also have a relaxation area, SVT Nordnytt reports.
Vladimir Kharlov, Northern Maritime Corridor (NMC) project coordinator: “Northern maritime corridor has to develop the regional economies and humanitarian relations. The development of the Northern Sea Route will give new opportunities for the local business".
Andreas Haukenes from the Pomor museum in Vardö, Norway, tells about the pomor trade between Russians and Norwegians that have been blossoming between 1740-1920.
Viktor Basargin, Russian minister of the regional development: “Russia puts 103 million euros into the cross-border cooperation projects with the EU".
Silje Brandvoll, the director of the tourism branch in the Norwegian county of Nordland: “People return to Nordland to start their own business".
Murmansk TV reports about the Barents Reunion's Annual Convention: "All the ways of Barents Region lead to Haparanda". (The reportage is in Russian).
Murmansk TV reports about the unique co-existence in the united Europe: "Haparanda and Tornio are so close to each other that people never notice that they in fact are crossing the national borders". (The reportage is in Russian).
Murmansk TV reports about IKEA in Haparanda: "The intuition of opening an IKEA-store in Haparanda was stronger than calculations. From the first working day IKEA has not only become profitable, but also totally changed the life in Haparanda". (The reportage is in Russian).
Murmansk TV reports about the War Opera in Haparanda: "The War Opera is depicting one of the
most dramatic periods in the relations between Russia and Sweden". (The reportage is in Russian).
most dramatic periods in the relations between Russia and Sweden". (The reportage is in Russian).
Murmansk TV reports about Kalott Jazz Festival in Haparanda: "120 musicians and more than 80 bands from Sweden, Finland, Norway, Great Britain and Russia came to Haparanda to attend the Kalott Jazz Festival". (The reportage is in Russian).
AL GORE, former US vice-president, Noble prize laureate:
"Climate changes are not speculative. We are seeing with our own eyes that the ice-cap is melting before our eyes. If we don't make any steps we would be condemning all future generations."
"Climate changes are not speculative. We are seeing with our own eyes that the ice-cap is melting before our eyes. If we don't make any steps we would be condemning all future generations."
INGVAR KAMPRAD, IKEA:
"Ökad användning av trä skapar grund för ökat hållbart skogsbruk. Därmed kan IKEA ta åt sig en del av äran för ett ökat upptag av koldioxid från atmosfären."
"Ökad användning av trä skapar grund för ökat hållbart skogsbruk. Därmed kan IKEA ta åt sig en del av äran för ett ökat upptag av koldioxid från atmosfären."
SERGEJ LAVROV, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Russia:
"We are not planning any increase in our armed forces presence in the Arctic."
"We are not planning any increase in our armed forces presence in the Arctic."
JONAS GAHR STÖRE, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway:
"Norway and Russia have now a deepening cooperation on the standards that should apply to the activities in the Barents Sea."
"Norway and Russia have now a deepening cooperation on the standards that should apply to the activities in the Barents Sea."
Senast uppdaterad: 2010-06-28
Barents Reunion, c/o Merja Pikkuaho, 953 85 Haparanda, Phone:+46 (0)922-150 00, E-mail: merja.pikkuaho@haparanda.se
Copyright©2008 Barents Reunion