Speech at the 23rd graduation ceremony of the UN University´s Geothermal Training Programme, 05.10.2001.
Valgerður Sverrisdóttir
Minister of Industry and Commerce
It is a great pleasure for me to greet you here today at the 23rd graduation ceremony of the UN University's Geothermal Training Programme. On this occasion, 16 students from 10 countries are graduating. Since the programme was set up in 1979, 261 students from 38 countries have completed 6-month training courses, and a large number of other scientists have attended the programme for shorter periods.
As you know, running the programme is part of Iceland's foreign aid programme. We are proud of how smoothly things have gone, from our point of view, in setting the programme up and running it. But the most important thing about any training programme is, of course, whether the training is of any use to the students when they go back to their own countries. It has been gratifying to hear of more and more of our former students who have done well for themselves in many parts of the world, and some of them are now among the world's leading experts in geothermal technology.
In the present company there is no need to stress how important it is to make more use of geothermal energy all over the world. Geothermal energy can replace combustable fuels, so cutting the emission of greenhouse gases and providing a sustainable energy source, providing it is used properly. This is why making more use of geothermal energy is a global challenge, and all countries with access to geothermal resources should play a part in meeting it.
Over the past few years we have become aware of a lot of interest in international collaboration on geothermal research and utilisation, which is very gratifying. To some extent this is the result of the work of our programme here, since most of our past students maintain contact with Iceland and the programme has brought many of them together.
I should like to congratulate all of you who are graduating here today on this important milestone in your lives and your careers. I hope you will keep in touch with the programme and with Iceland. This is important for us as well as for you. I hope you have enjoyed and benefited from your time in our country, and that you will take good memories back home with you. I am sure your work will contribute to well-being in your countries, and I wish you happiness and success in your careers.
Thank you.