Pohang City Expands "Arctic Network" with Tromso, Norway...Strengthening Global Partnerships

Pohang City is accelerating its global efforts to open up the Arctic shipping route by joining hands with the Arctic Economic Council (AEC), the largest economic cooperation body in the Arctic region, and the City of Tromso in Norway.

Pohang City announced that on the 3rd (local time) in Tromso, Norway, it held a series of meetings with the AEC and the City and Port Authority of Tromso to discuss various cooperation measures to strengthen partnerships on the Arctic shipping route and promote sustainable green growth.

Pohang City met with Gunnar Wilhelmsen, mayor of Tromso, on the 3rd (local time). Provided by Pohang City

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In its meeting with the AEC, the city invited the AEC Chair as a keynote speaker for the World Green Growth Forum (WGGF), scheduled to be held in the second half of 2026, and proposed organizing a session to apply the Arctic region's experience in sustainable development to Pohang, an Asian manufacturing city.

This discussion was a follow-up to the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed during last year's "Arctic Cooperation Week" to expand the Arctic shipping route and economic cooperation. The two organizations shared ways to expand the scope of cooperation beyond existing route collaboration to include green growth and new industries.

At the subsequent meetings with Tromso City Hall and the Port Authority, the parties discussed developing the Arctic shipping route centered on Yeongilman Port, cooperation in maritime logistics, and exchanges in eco-friendly technologies such as hydrogen energy. Pohang City proposed a technology exchange model that links Tromso Port Authority's experience in eco-friendly port operations with Pohang's hydrogen fuel cell and smart IT technologies.

In addition, Gunnar Wilhelmsen, Mayor of Tromso, expressed a positive stance on comprehensive inter-city exchanges aimed at expanding the vision of Pohang-Tromso as hub cities on the Arctic shipping route, including future port exchanges between the two cities, and agreed to continue follow-up consultations on specific cooperation measures.

An official from Pohang City said, "This visit has become a turning point for us to leap forward as a green economic partner connecting the Arctic and Asia," adding, "We will prepare for the successful hosting of the World Green Growth Forum (WGGF) and continue to strengthen the northern logistics competitiveness of Yeongilman Port."

Meanwhile, earlier, the city presented its vision for an eco-friendly Arctic shipping route using Yeongilman Port as a hub at the "Arctic Frontiers 2026" conference, the largest international conference in the Arctic region.

On the 2nd, the city participated as an expert panelist in a session hosted by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), an international organization, and gave a presentation on "Pohang's preparations for opening the Arctic shipping route, sustainable green shipping, and the future of Yeongilman Port," introducing the geographical advantages of Yeongilman Port, plans to build eco-friendly port infrastructure, and strategies for transitioning to green shipping.

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