Good afternoon and welcome to Kristiansand and Agder to each and every one of you, our guests from the Dutch delegation. 

My name is Arne Thomassen and I am the County Mayor of Agder.

Agder is the southernmost county in Norway.

We are 313 414 inhabitants (egder) - with backgrounds from 150 countries. 

Agder is an outward-looking region with a long tradition for international cooperation. 

Our business community is export-oriented and many of the companies have foreign owners. 

The cooperation between our two regions, Agder and Groningen, is a great example of this tradition.

Our two regions share many features in terms of renewable energy production, maritime industries, and high climate ambitions.

And both are members of the North Sea Commission.

I held a speech in April when the new ferry service between Kristiansand and Eemshaven was launched.

Then I said: 

“I am convinced that the ferry service will bring us closer together, and enable more cooperation between businesses, universities, research institutions and public authorities in the two regions.

The ferry service is very important for our region and will greatly facilitate tourism and trade, as well as professional, business, educational and cultural exchanges with Northern Netherlands.”

Your visit is a definitive proof of that – and a step in the right direction.

We strongly believe that Agder in the coming years will play an even greater role as an attractive green business region. 

And our cooperation is important in that regard.

We hope to attract new investments based on innovation and new technology. 

Agder will strengthen its position as a region that is attractive for developing and establishing the new green, fossile-free, circular, and sustainable industry, 

Based on the region's advantages and own power resources.

Our location, close to offshore wind areas in the North Sea makes Agder the perfect region to locate new industry. 

We will play our part to secure Agders role in the offshore wind supply chain.

Our strength as an energy region is based on our natural resources, but also a very competent work force. 

I think we all agree that we have world class engineering expertise here in Kristiansand – both in the maritime sector and the processing industry.

And of course, our region is also well known for being a great place to live – and to visit.

In Agder you can enjoy a mild climate, great outdoor activities like fishing, biking, wandering, diving, and climbing, to mention a few. 

You will find plenty of good restaurants and accomodation alternatives. 

Tomorrow, some of you will visit the spectacular restaurant Under.

The restaurant has its name because it’s 5 meters under the ocean surface.

In 2020 Forbes magazine called it “one of the most remarkable restaurants in newer time” and put it on their list of the 10 coolest places to eat.
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And later tonight, we will all visit the region’s main tourist attraction – Kristiansand Zoo and amusement park.

Every year over 1 million people visits the Zoo. 

That is a fifth of Norways entire population.

Agder county is very pleased to welcome you all to our region, and we are looking forward to strengthening our cooperation in the future.

Thank you very much.