The past year has been marked by decisive progress in the east-west connections in the Northern Nordics. The importance of further strengthening infrastructure from a regional, Nordic, and European perspective was emphasised during the Västerbotten at Grand Hôtel event in January 2024. The Nordic Connector initiative, which aims to develop a fixed connection across the Kvarken to further connect and strengthen the Nordic region, gained historic momentum at that time. Interest in this important future issue has remained significant throughout the year.
In addition to infrastructure matters, the Board has decided to expand our collaboration platform by placing special focus on energy and culture. Therefore, we established two strategic working committees in 2024 within energy and culture & education, complementing the existing working committee on traffic and infrastructure. These thematic working groups include both members and external stakeholders, creating a unique arena where the public sector meets businesses and other interested parties. The working committees ensure that initiatives are anchored in real regional needs and serve as active recipients of project results. This system effectively captures requests and ideas from the field, ensuring that collaborative initiatives have a clear regional foundation and contribute to regional development.
The Board has also worked strategically to develop the organisation’s structure and working methods. The Kvarken Council’s rapid growth, with several new members in recent years, places high demands on clear governance and efficient processes. This work ensures that we can meet future challenges with a strong and well-functioning organisation.
The Kvarken region remains strong despite challenges in the green transition. We are well-positioned to lead future development thanks to our unique potential in renewable energy, technological innovations, and cross-border cooperation. Together, we are creating the conditions for a sustainable future that benefits both the environment and regional growth.
I would like to thank everyone who contributes to our successful cooperation – the Kvarken Council’s dedicated staff, the Board, our members, financiers, as well as the region’s politicians and officials. Together, we continue to strengthen and develop the Kvarken region.
Rickard Carstedt
Chairman, Kvarken Council EGTC