Grimsby is to host a working visit by Iceland鈥檚 海角视频 Ambassador as the area looks to improve its already strong links with the Nordic country post-Brexit.
As the 海角视频 enters its period of transition out of the EU, North East Lincolnshire鈥檚 business community is determined to facilitate discussions between itself and countries, such as Iceland, to ensure the relationships that currently exist are strengthened.
Key to that aim, the Humber鈥檚 Grimsby-based Icelandic consulate Jonathan Goolden 鈥 a partner at Wilkin Chapman solicitors 鈥 has been integral in facilitating the visit by Stef谩n Haukur J贸hannesson.
Arriving on Thursday evening, he will attend a reception at Grimsby Institute with the Fish Merchants鈥 Association and other seafood sector representatives. Dinner will centre on the theme of 鈥業celandic Fish, Made Great in Grimsby鈥.
Friday will see him take in several civic and business appointments, accompanied by Mr Goolden and Icelandic diplomat Ing贸lfur Fri冒riksson.
Discussions will cover issues ranging from port operations and border inspection arrangements to Brexit and the local businesses that are dependent on Iceland and the historic Nordic links that exist.
Looking forward to the visit, Mr Goolden said: 鈥淗ere in North East Lincolnshire, we must look at our area, post-Brexit, with optimism 鈥 one of opportunity to work with partners, such as Iceland to forge a greater future for us all. This visit provides an opportunity to do just that, both to listen and to be heard.鈥
Iceland, Norway and The Faroes have all signed up to trade agreements.
Fish Merchants鈥 Association representative Simon Dwyer has also helped to facilitate the visit. He said: 鈥淥ur association and its members have close commercial trade and supply chain relationships with Iceland. We meet and liaise regularly with the Ambassador and his team.
鈥淭he cluster imports about 50,000 tonnes of fresh and frozen fish from Iceland that arrives into the regional seaports and is also flown into East Midlands Airport. The vast majority of this fish is transported to Grimsby for processing for major retailers, food service companies and fish and chip shops. Supplies are also crucial for merchants who buy fresh fish from our auction market.鈥
There will also be a meeting with North East Lincolnshire鈥檚 two Conservative MPs, during which Humber Freeport is on the agenda, while there will be an opportunity to meet fishmongers and enjoy a fish cookery demonstration at Freeman Street Market.
The final stop is Grimsby Town Hall and a reception with council leaders, and the chief executive of Humber Local Enterprise Partnership, Kishor Tailor.
Grimsby MP Lia Nici said: 鈥淭he strong links we already have provide us with a perfect platform upon which we can grow together, and I am very much looking forward to welcoming the Ambassador here.鈥 Cleethorpes鈥 Martin Vickers added: 鈥淗aving met the Ambassador on a number of previous occasions, I know of his enthusiasm to maintain the intrinsic links between our two areas and visits such as these are important ways of not just maintaining that relationship, but improving it even further.鈥
