On 16. April The Ministry of Trade and Industry, along with Vice President of the EU Commission, Mr. Günther Verheugen paid a short visit to Ny-Ålesund.

Director of Kings Bay AS, Mr. Jon Erik Nygaard, and Kings Bay AS' Research Adviser, Mr. Bendik Eithun Halgunset were hosting this visit. They gave a brief about Kings Bay AS and the research taking place in this settlement. They also visited the French-German station AWIPEV. After lunch and a quick visit to the local souvernir shop; Kongsfjordbutikken, they headed back to Longyearbyen to continue their stay there.

The delegation gathered just before take-off. Mr. Verheugen is number 3 from the left.