Iceland Extends Warm Greeting to New Business Investment

Icelandic-American Chamber's Annual Conference and Luncheon Celebrates 70 Years of Diplomatic Relations Between Iceland and the United States

News provided by

Consulate General of Iceland

May 22, 2012, 02:15 ET

NEW YORK, May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For over 100 years the United States has been one of Iceland's most important trading partners and today the United States is the second largest exporter to Iceland following the European Economic Area, and the largest foreign direct investor in the country. In return, Iceland finds a ready market in the United States for its world famous seafood, technology, creative industries, logistics and unique tourist destinations.

On Wednesday, May 30, 9:00a.m. – 1:30p.m., during a half-day conference and luncheon hosted by the Icelandic-American Chamber of Commerce (IACC) at the Embassy of Iceland in Washington, D.C., Icelandic and American business and government speakers will discuss investment opportunities in Iceland and for Icelandic investors.

The event, held in cooperation with the U.S. Department of State and celebrating 70 successful years of diplomatic relations between the countries, will feature speakers covering a range of topics: Iceland's most promising investment sectors, competitive energy costs, responsible fisheries and tourism. (RSVP: [email protected]; 646 282 9360; $80)

Deborah A. McCarthy, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, will make the keynote speech and discuss U.S. and Icelandic economic ties. Panelists will speak about investments on both sides of the Atlantic, fisheries, the Arctic and renewable energy include John Connolly, Director, National Fisheries Institute, Kristjan Guy Burgess, Political Advisor to the Foreign Minister of Iceland, Aaron Brickman, Deputy Executive Director at Select USA of the U.S. Department of Commerce, and Charles J. Arrigo II, Advisor, Glacier Securities LLC.

Other notable participants include:

Helgi Mar Bjorgvinsson, Senior Vice President for Sales and Marketing, Icelandair
Thordur Hilmarsson, Managing Director, Invest In Iceland
Conference Chair: Jon Sigurdsson, Chairman of the IACC, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ossur
Panel Moderator: Fridrid Jonsson, Advisor to the Executive Director, Nordic and Baltic Countries, World Bank
Gudmundur Arni Stefansson, Iceland Ambassador to the United States
Thor Thors Jr., 1^st Vice Chairman of the Icelandic American Chamber of Commerce
Marie L. Yovanovitch, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, State Department