The Icelandic Canadian - 01.09.2003, Side 13

Vol. 58 #1
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
11
tionship. In my mind, there is no doubt
that it has for example greatly contributed
to the fact that more Icelandic postgraduate
students head for universities in the USA,
than any other country.
Education is one of the key factors in
making Iceland a viable community. To
survive and prosper a small nation has to be
efficient and adaptable, willing to take risks
and take advantage of opportunities as they
arise. It is therefore important to have
diversity in education and to have access to
some of the best academic institutions in
the world.
For a long time, more than one third of
Icelandic post-graduate students seeking
education abroad have gone to America.
There is no doubt that a strong North-
American educational influence has made
Iceland stronger and able to compete more
successfully in the international market.
There is no doubt that it has paved the way
for new result - oriented thinking in
Icelandic businesses and trade organiza-
tions.
You could probably claim that in no
other field has Iceland benefited from the
relationship with North American more
than in education and the field of knowl-
edge. You can see the results in new
Icelandic companies in the fields of engi-
neering, biotechnology, human genetics
and information technology. An example
of these ties is the relationship that has long
existed between Iceland and the state of
Minnesota. A large group of Icelandic stu-
dents have come to universities in this state
and received support and grants. It was
therefore a great pleasure to witness earlier
today the signing of a treaty reaffirming the
relationship between the University of
Iceland and the University of Minnesota.
Reflecting on the issue of education on
a personal note, I had the privilege to
attend one of the fine American education-
al institutions when I was a Fulbright MBA
student at Wharton in Philadelphia from
1966 to 1968. What I took back from that
experience undoubtedly helped shape my
approach to my career, but also it helped
shape my views on the possibilities of
doing business with America.
My conclusion is really that Iceland
and North America have a relationship that
cannot be measured only by trade statistics
or what money can buy. It runs deeper
than that. The Icelandic-American rela-
tionship has a strong ingredient of culture,
education and the diffusion of knowledge.
In addition there are powerful historical
and emotional ties.
Therefore it is important to maintain
and strengthen organizations such as the
Icelandic Chamber of Commerce and the
Icelandic National Leagues that have orga-
nized this event today. These are the kind
of organizations that strengthen, develop
and deepen the intangible part of the rela-
tionship between two great nations.
Thank you very much.
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