March 17, 2016
With this letter we invite you and your organization to attend the Arctic Circle Forum in
Greenland, which will be held on May 1719 at Katuaq cultural centre in Nuuk, and to participate in
dialogue and discussions on the numerous Arctic issues on the agenda of the Forum.
The annual Arctic Circle Assembly in Iceland each October is the largest and most
comprehensive annual global gathering on Arctic affairs. The Arctic Circle also convenes forums on
more specific topics in various locations around the world. The forum in Greenland, organized in
cooperation with the Government of Greenland, will focus on economic development for the
Indigenous Peoples of the Arctic. The main objective of the forum will be to strengthen the increasing
international awareness and understanding of indigenous peoples’ rights, particularly the right to
development. The forum will provide a platform to openly explore the common interests and
challenges of the Arctic region. The discussions will include investment, trade and indigenous
peoples’ interests, with special sessions on tourism, infrastructure, shipping, airtraffic, fishing and
industries. The aim will be to further develop increased cooperation on the development of the Arctic,
with an acknowledgement and understanding of Indigenous Peoples and traditional livelihood of
indigenous peoples’ nations and communities.
The forum in Nuuk will be opened by President of Iceland Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and
Premier of Greenland Kim Kielsen. Among the speakers and participants will be political leaders,
officials, representatives from Arctic businesses and organizations, investment funds, and scientific
institutes from the Arctic States as well as Europe and Asia along with indigenous community leaders.
The Greenland Forum is open for all to participate. Please register on our website,
www.arcticcircle.org, where you will also find a draft agenda of the Greenland Forum, as well as
photographs and videos from past Assemblies and Forums. Furthermore, the website describes the
organization and nature of the Arctic Circle and its mission. The core principle of the Arctic Circle is to
provide an open, democratic forum for discussion and cooperation on Arctic affairs.
If you have any questions or feedback, your office can contact the Arctic Circle Secretariat for
further information at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Dagfinnur Sveinbjörnsson
CEO
Sigríður Huld Blöndal
Director