One of the significantly different features of this year’s Nunavut Trade Show was the presence of a Greenlandic delegation, headed by Christian Keldsen.
"There’s an interest, obviously, in doing business with Nunavut and Canada in general," said Keldsen, the managing director of Greenland Business Association. "Greenland is becoming more globally available.”
The previous evening, on Sept. 17, Air Greenland announced it would continue the Nuuk-Iqaluit route next summer, despite fire exit concerns encountered in the last month at the Nuuk Airport and subsequent temporary suspension of travel.
“It’s been as successful as can be,” said Keldsen. “Obviously, we’re here to support the route and explore what we can use the route for... You need to grow the reasons to go.”
This goes for both sides of the Atlantic. In 2022, the Greenlandic government signed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Nunavut.
“There were some topics in that agreement of a business nature, and we’re here to explore that,” Keldsen said. “There’s a lot in there about fisheries and infrastructure, and about culture and arts and crafts. We’ve got suppliers of the fishing industry here... they’re very popular with their nets or their long knives, but no distribution at this point. People will come to Greenland and they’ll pick up the odd item and bring it back, but there’s no structure of export... You’ve got the port, airline and shipping line.”
Keldsen also participated in a panel at the trade show focusing on how to work with artists, as Greenland has experience in bringing the arts and business communities together.
“There’s some inspiration here, they could work with the local artists as well... decorating cultural buildings... so you’re always working with the local artists to make the town pretty,” he suggested.
In general, Keldsen said the exchange between the Greenlandic delegation and the GN and Nunavut businesses provided “inspiration for both of us. We’re obviously curious about the way things are done here... there’s some eye-openers in terms of potential business, but also showing that this [airline] route is here to stay, we’re fun to do business with and there is potential. We are just two hours away, and I can only just encourage people to use the route because that's what's going to keep it alive."
