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Falkland Focus
News from the Falkland Islands Government
Number: 70 - September/October 2000

FOREIGN OFFICE MINISTER JOHN BATTLE MP

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Economic Forum projects Falklands into 21st Century

Economic Developments

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Constitutional Review

Falkland Islands Government's Annual Reception

Oil Update: The South West Atlantic Hydrocarbons Commission Meets

Environmental Marine Conference

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Education Watch: Graduates Show Promising Future - Excellent A Level Results

News In Brief: Significant Interest Generated in the Islands at the UK County Shows - Overseas Territories Open Day - New Fish Processing Plant - Falklands' Photographs Positively Changed UK Public's Perceptions of the Islands

Future Visits to the Islands: Yorkshire Links - British MPs - Celebrity Chef

Economic Forum projects Falklands into 21st Century

An audience of nearly 150 people made up of business representatives, investors and press and media from the Falklands and the UK attended the first Falkland Islands Forum in London on 12 July 2000. Hosted by the Falkland Islands Government, the Forum considered the future sustainable diversification of the Islands in the areas of mineral exploration, commercial fishing and agriculture, alongside the protection of the Islands' special environment.

The Keynote speech, by Foreign Office Minister John Battle MP, set out the framework of the Government's new partnership with the Islands based on self-determination and guaranteed security and praised the economic success of the Islands. Mr Battle described the Falklands as a "beacon of democracy" and praised "the highest standards of probity, law and order, good government and observance of international commitment" that exists there.

Delegates heard presentations from the Falkland Islands Chief Executive and Departmental Heads before breaking into working groups to explore economic, environment and development issues. The plenary session, "Prospects for the new Millennium", included reports from each group and there was a high degree of audience participation and business and commercial contact making throughout the day.

Summing up, Councillor Lewis Clifton emphasised the importance that the Falkland Islands Government places on attracting new business stressing that "only through inward investment can we secure and sustain our future".

The Conference, chaired by ITN News Presenter Nick Owen, was generally regarded by all participants as a huge success in projecting the modern Falklands as 'open for business' and an initiative worth repeating. The Forum was generously sponsored by a number of businesses involved in the Islands.

A Pre-Conference Dinner, sponsored by Golden Touza Ltd, was attended by 85 guests including MPs, journalists and business leaders. Minister of State, John Battle MP, was the guest of honour and Michael Binyon of The Times, gave the after-dinner address.

Dr Michael Blanch, Chief Executive Falkland Islands Government, said: "The Forum has taken us a step closer towards our goals of economic growth together with sustainable environmental policies. Now we can plan with confidence for the challenges of the 21st Century".

A report, the agenda and the full text of key speeches are all available on-line. Please click here.

Hugh Normand, General Manager of the Falkland Islands Development Corporation, taking questions from the floor

Economic Developments

The development of new sustainable economic initiatives for the Falkland Islands was the central theme of the Falklands Forum, Sustaining a Secure Future, held in London on 12 July.

Among the new initiatives discussed were:

The branding and marketing of Falkland Islands "natural products" - for example agriproducts from meat and wool, to smoked fish and oysters, calcified seaweed fertiliser and kelp, sphagnum moss and even reindeer - to world markets.
"Fast-tracking" the export of organic agriculture (the Falklands uses no pesticides, soluble fertilisers, antibiotics or hormone implants).
A Falkland Islands kite mark, "Falklands Organic" - a badge of quality.
The construction of a new abattoir, built to EU standards, opening in June/July 2001, to allow the export of organic beef, mutton and lamb.
An open-door licensing policy for hydrocarbon exploration in unlicensed acreage is in preparation. (Offshore development with little on-shore impact continues to be the strategy for a production phase.)
The development of on-shore fisheries activity, such as fish preparation. (The average annual catch of fish and squid from Falkland zones is around a quarter of a million tonnes. The Falklands account for around 10% or greater of the world catch of Loligo and Illex squid.)
The construction of a new deep water port for use by tourist and commercial vessels.
The responsible development of tourism, including the conversion of cruise ship 'day visitors' to longer stays and returnees. (The Falkland Islands receives over 30,000 cruise ship visitors a year and this is estimated to rise to 70,000 by 2005.)
The development of a new Falklands internet portal - www.thefalklands.com - with linked websites that will promote a clean, green, welcoming image of the Islands and facilitate e-commerce to sell agriproducts and tourism, and perhaps later in marketing wool and a 'fishery auction'.