4. Areas of Opportunity
East Iceland flourishes as a region of opportunities where a thriving economy sustainably utilizes its resources in harmony with the community, and where innovation, knowledge, and research become increasingly strong foundations for job creation and progress.
The municipalities in East Iceland aim to achieve this by working towards shared goals under the following areas:
4.1 Future Economic Development
4.2 Food
4.3 Forests
4.4 Tourism
The objectives focus on making East Iceland:
A region with clear key priorities for economic development, where both traditional and newer cornerstones of the economy are reinforced.
A region that promotes value creation in food production, offering high-quality food for residents and visitors.
A region where forests thrive, benefiting the environment, job creation, and outdoor activities.
A region with a sustainable, responsible, and robust year-round tourism industry.
4.1 Future Economic Development
The pillars of East Iceland’s economy will be strengthened, with the development of industries guided by the sustainable use of resources. Local knowledge will be enhanced to foster innovation.
Topics of this section:
H. Key Priorities for Economic Development
I. Cornerstones of the Economy
4.2 Food
In East Iceland, food production will be supported, knowledge will be enhanced, raw material processing will be increased, and access to East Icelandic food will be improved. The guiding principles are sustainability, value creation, and minimizing waste within the food system. This will enhance the quality and image of East Icelandic food and ensure the continued competitiveness of East Iceland as a food production region.
Topics of this section:
Í. Food Production and Value Creation
J. Distribution, Procurement, and Consumption of Food
4.3 Forests
Residents of East Iceland will increasingly enjoy outdoor activities in forests. Forestry will be strengthened, forests maintained, and expanded where appropriate, especially near urban areas. Forestry will play a significant role in environmental protection and will become a growing and innovative industry in East Iceland.
Topics of this section:
K. Development of Forest Resources
L. Forest Utilization and Value Creation
M. Access and Outdoor Activities in Forests
4.4 Tourism
East Iceland will become a year-round destination appealing to both locals and visitors. It will rest on a strong transportation network and high-quality tourism services, utilizing environmental, social, and cultural resources. Product development and marketing of the region will be guided by the unique characteristics of East Iceland.
Topics of this section:
N. Community and Visitors
O. Tourism Resources and Infrastructure
Ó. Products and Service Quality