During an interview, Denmark’s foreign minister, Lene Espersen, has notified that this week the country has launched its first formal strategy for the Arctic region, strategy intended to facilitate private investment and encourage international businesses to enter the far north as the ice melts and vast natural resources become accessible.
"With the new strategy we are opening up for international corporations from the whole world to come to the Arctic and to Greenland. The signal we are sending is that we will welcome them with open arms, we are not nervous, we are not afraid of letting industry into the area”, said Ms. Espersen.
In addition, the minister has pinpointed that previous discussion about the Arctic region had focused on the environment and notified that a majority of countries, including Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands, have agreed to utilize the commercial as well as economic potential of the area.
The Arctic region covers more than a sixth of the Earth's landmass along with gigantic Arctic Ocean and considered as a sensitive ecosystem and therefore, protected against commercial exploitation.
On the other hand, Greenpeace has expressed disappointment over the announcement. While commenting on the issue, the Executive Director of Greenpeace Nordics, Mads Flarup Christensen, said that the move has reflected that Greenland's economic independence is more important than environment.