New state secretary responsible for Northern policy
Erik Lahnstein from the The Norwegian Centre Party is appointed State Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with responsibility for Norwegian policy in the High North.
- It will be important for me to move focus from the sea over to land and create more jobs there, Lahnstein said to the Norwegian newspaper Nordlys.
- The Ministry’s main task will be to further develop the dialogue we already have with regional actors from politics, business and knowledge-based companies, Lahnstein says and underlines that he believes that the potential for business development in Northern Norway is great, provided that these actors work together.
Lahnstein believes Northern Norway’s largest potential lies within tourism and related sectors. Renewable energy, sea and resources management, oil and gas and fisheries are other areas where the regional has great potential.
One of the first things Lahnstein plans to do in his new job is to appoint a Wealth creation panel with representatives from business and knowledge-based companies, Nordlys writes.
Mr. Lahnstein is the third State Secretary with special responsibility for projects related with Russia to be replaced during Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre’s time in office.
