During visit to Svalbard from 14 to 17 August 2023 to meet with the Norwegian authority and the Thai community, H.E. Ms. Vimolbajra Ruksakiati, Ambassador of Thailand to Norway, along with Ms. Bheraya Homkosol, Counsellor also had a study visit to the Russian Research Center at the Russian settlement in Barentsburg, which is situated in the Norwegian territory of the Svalbard Archipelago.
The consortium of the Russian Research Center in Spitsbergen includes 13 institutions, led by the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, Saint Petersburg. The Russian Research Center conducts comprehensive studies of natural environment of Spitsbergen (the largest and only permanently populated island of the Svalbard Archipelagos), the adjacent water area of the Arctic Ocean and influence of anthropogenic factors. The study visit compliments with Thailand’s cooperation with Norway on Arctic Research between Chulalongkorn University and the University Centre of Svalbard (UNIS).
Ambassador Vimolbajra also visited the coal mine of the Trust Arktikugol, primary school, and the Pomor Museum in Barenstburg. The study visit also took place at the Pyramiden settlement, the abandoned coal mine, where the unique of Arctic nature and history of Soviet culture can be observed.
Ambassador Vimolbajra was welcomed by Mr. Andrey Aleksandrovich Chemerilo, Consul General of Russia in Barentsburg and representatives from Trust Arktikugol, the Russian Research Center and the Barentsburg’s primary school.