The cities of Kryvyi Rih and Lyngdal (Norway) have signed a partnership agreement.

This was reported by the Kryvyi Rih City Council's official website.

The agreement was signed by the acting Mayor of Kryvyi Rih, Yuriy Vilkul, and the Mayor of Lindal, Jan Christensen.

The signing ceremony was attended by the Ambassador of Norway to Ukraine Helene Sand Andresen, Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine in Norway Liliia Goncharevych, representative of the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (KS) Elita Chakule and International Relations Advisor of the Association of Ukrainian Cities Natalia Lazarenko.

"Norway is one of the world's most economically successful countries. The signing of the Partnership Agreement is the start for the implementation of joint projects in education, culture, and business relations. Moreover, the support of our international partners is crucial for the recovery and development of Kryvyi Rih and Ukraine after our common Victory, including attracting investments," said Yuriy Vilkul, acting Mayor of Kryvyi Rih.

"By signing the cooperation agreement, we demonstrate our support and solidarity with the people of Kryvyi Rih in the midst of this brutal terrorist attack by Russia. We, in the municipality of Lyngdal, want to raise the level of cooperation to that of solidarity and partnership. We are going to become partners with Kryvyi Rih in the field of culture and sports, business and the public sector. Our cooperation is also about learning from each other. I am confident that our partnership, especially in this challenging for your country time, would be fruitful and successful," said Jan Christensen, Mayor of Lyngdal.

"Norway condemns Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine, which violates international law and global security. Ukrainians continue their fight not only for themselves but for the whole world. This bravery definitely inspires us. Our countries have deep historical ties and together we can work to build a better future. Active local self-government is the basis for a prosperous country. Therefore, we hope that such cooperation includes support for decentralisation, exchange of experience, public engagement and more," said Ambassador of Norway to Ukraine Helene Sand Andresen.

Charge d'Affaires of Ukraine in Norway Liliia Goncharevych noted that cooperation between Ukraine and Norway, especially in times of war, is of great importance.

"It is crucial for us to see and feel the solidarity of our international partners. Kryvyi Rih is a remarkable city whose history dates back to the Ukrainian Cossacks, and the history of the city of Lyngdal goes back to the Scandinavian era. We hope that the cooperation between Kryvyi Rih and Lyngdal will serve as a basis for further development of close and fruitful relations between Ukraine and Norway. Kryvyi Rih is currently going through a terrible time of loss and needs recovery and restoration. Therefore, the priority is: energy recovery, energy infrastructure, and the humanitarian sector. We hope for mutual assistance."

Information

Lyngdal is one of the southernmost municipalities in Norway, located in the county of Agder, where marine and oil production equipment, cranes, wind turbines, and green wind energy are concentrated.

The GDP per capita in Norway is $67,989 (4th place in the world). According to the Human Development Index, Norway ranks second in the world.

The country is a member of NATO as well as the Schengen area.

On 31 May 2023, the Norwegian authorities announced a five-year military assistance programme worth €7 billion to Ukraine. Norway will also provide €378 million in financial assistance for humanitarian aid and economic support.