New Business Plan for Longyearbyen: To Strengthen Length of Residence and Business Friendliness

Longyearbyen lokalstyre (the local council) adopted its first business plan written in-house in September. The plan covers 2026 to 2030 and sets the direction for the council's work on local business development. It builds on the council's role as a community developer and on national guidelines in the Svalbard white paper (2023 to 2024). Lennarth Kvernmo, head of business development at the council, told High North News the plan aims at stability and predictability, not at lifting local business to a new level. He said it leaves some room for local firms. He said the white paper rules out population growth, while profitability and quality in business can grow.

The plan has three main objectives. The first is to lift the median time Norwegian residents stay in town from 3.5 years to 4.6 years by 2036. The second is for the council to become friendlier to business, with a service-minded administration, efficient and predictable case handling and proactive guidance. Satisfaction with the council as a partner for firms, scored from one to six, stood at 2.45 in 2023 and is to reach four by 2030. The third is to strengthen local firms for the future town, so that local businesses and researchers gain influence and assignments in transition projects. Kvernmo said Longyearbyen will renew buildings and critical infrastructure during the coming 20 to 30 years. He said this covers homes, energy, water and sewage, with investments probably running into billions.

The plan also names four focus areas: preparedness, sustainable tourism, Arctic expertise applied locally, and housing management for residents and firms.

A Longyearbyen cooperation forum is being set up as a permanent meeting place for important local stakeholders, alongside the existing business forum. Its constitutive meeting is set for Wednesday. Kvernmo said its main task will be coordination, as council chair Terje Aunevik has said the council should take that role. The council is also drafting the action part of the plan, covering priority measures, responsibilities, resource needs and financing. It will go to politicians by the end of 2026. Businesses took part through surveys and workshops, and the Svalbard Business Association sat on the steering group.