Joannes Eidesgaard was speaking at the opening of the 2007 North Atlantic Fish Fair in the capital Torshavn which ended this weekend. Mr Eidesgaard said the Faroe Islands is a maritime nation. He argued: "Therefore we do not consider the sea a barrier, but a highway and thereby a provider of wealth and business opportunities. But the creation of business opportunities rarely takes place in isolation. In most cases this requires good relations, co-operation and interaction with others – and in a Faroese context this implies contacts with the outside world.

"Our country is hosting several different international conferences and exhibitions, and we do indeed see it as very important to host events like this Fish Fair Exhibition in the Faroes."

Welcoming visitors to the fish trade fair, the Premier added: "The Faroes is a maritime nation, and many Faroese companies do business abroad as well as at home. But there are also several small locally-based companies that need to be in touch with the world outside the Faroes. Along with their foreign counterparts and business associates, they need to meet in order to keep the relations going and growing. "It is equally important for foreign companies and their staff to have the opportunity to come to the Faroes to experience first hand the environment of the Faroese fisheries sector and to develop personal contacts with our business community.

The three day event has attracted dozens of international fishing companies and hundreds of visitors.

When the first North Atlantic Fish Fair took place in 2001, no one really knew what to expect from such an event. Both Faroese and foreign exhibitors welcomed the first fair which became an immediate success, attracting over 200 exhibitors. Since then it has been held every two years and has grown larger each time.

Daniel Petur Hansen, managing director of the fair, said its purpose was not only to show off the best of the fishing industry and what it had to offer, but also to create contracts and generate new business. "In a broader sense, it is also a possibility to craft a forum that can help point towards a viable future for all stakeholders in the fishing industry," he added. Heoin Mortensen, the Mayor of Torshavn, said he hoped visitors had gained a positive experience from the event and added: "This small archipelago in the North Atlantic Ocean is quite remote from all others, but still at the centre of the Nordic countries. What could be more natural than to organise a fish fair here – in a nation, which has to be classed as a pure fishing nation barring all else. Our visitors will therefore not only gain positive experiences from this large well organised fish fair, but also have the opportunity to experience a fishing industry as we experience it every day, all over our islands." Torshavn was steeped in fishing history and it was a town where old and new came together.

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