Anders Hellström, financial manager Ljusnarsberg, Mikael Pulkkinen, municipal manager Ljusnarsberg, Natalie Ström, KSO Ljusnarsberg, Leif Pettersson, KSO Ludvika and Lars Lindblom, CEO Samarkand.
AB Samarkand2015 and Ljusnarsberg municipality have signed a new partner agreement to jointly strengthen business development in the region. Through collaboration in areas such as competence supply, infrastructure and mining industry, the parties must work for increased growth and coordination of resources in the northern Bergslagen.
– I see the fact that Ljusnarsberg’s municipality took the initiative for this as very positive. It shows that the need for cooperation goes beyond administrative boundaries. Infrastructure, electricity grids and labor markets do not stop at county borders – and neither should our collaborations, says Samarkand’s CEO Lars Lindblom.
Ljusnarsberg municipality has a strategic location and strong ties to Ludvika-Smedjebacken’s labor market. Through this collaboration, new opportunities are created to coordinate resources, highlight common strengths and meet challenges within, among other things, skills supply, the mining industry and infrastructure.
– This collaboration is completely in line with our mission to drive long-term growth and strengthen our region’s attractiveness. Ljusnarsberg has important assets and perspectives that complement our other partners. This contributes to building a functional region, and we have similar dialogues with other municipalities outside Dalarna. I see that as a receipt that we at Samarkand are doing something that works and is appreciated says Lars Lindblom, CEO of AB Samarkand2015.
A wide area of cooperation
The agreement covers several of Samarkand’s base areas:
- Competence supply and university center
- Broadening the labor market
- Infrastructure issues
- Cluster development through High Voltage Valley
- Strategic development work and projects
Samarkand will act as an ambassador for Ljusnarsberg in relevant networks, spread knowledge about the municipality’s possibilities and invite participation in working groups and events. Ljusnarsberg undertakes to assist with local knowledge, spread information about Samarkand’s work and contribute to identifying local needs.
The collaboration is followed up through quarterly joint meetings. Each party appoints a responsible contact person who runs the ongoing work. The agreement can be terminated by one of the parties with three months’ notice, but both Samarkand and Ljusnarsberg see this as the start of a long-term collaboration.
– We look forward to jointly creating new opportunities for companies, residents and the entire region, says Lars Lindblom.