Demonstration: Fighting against the closure of Polar factory in Aasiaat

The announcement that Polar Raajat's shrimp and fish factory in Aasiaat is to close in the autumn has led to strong reactions from the business community.

- Many of us business people from Aasiaat are very worried. We are afraid for our future and want to be heard by politicians. Not least those in Naalakkersuisut.

This is according to Bolethe (Bula) Marie Hendriksen, who is the prime mover behind a demonstration in Aasiaat tomorrow.

She and a number of other business people in Aasiaat have come together to protest the closure of the Polar factory in the town, which produces shrimp and fish.

- We are also demonstrating to show our support for all employees of Polar Raajat and its subsidiaries plus dinghy fishermen and their families, she says.

Bolethe Marie Hendriksen expects 70 people to participate in the demonstration and walk through the city to show their fight to save the factory.

Polar Raajat, owned by Polar Seafood Greenland and Polar Seafood Denmark with 116 employees in Aasiaat, must close unless a political solution is found. That is the message from the owners.

Fears of a lack of permanent jobs

Polar Raajat is the city's largest employer. Bolethe Marie Hendriksen, a self-employed hairdresser, says that business people in Aasiaat fear that in addition to the 116 jobs at Polar's factory, many jobs will be cut in the city and other towns and settlements in the Municipality of Qeqertalik.

- This means that there will be a shortage of many permanent jobs in the municipality, she says.

The Minister of Naalakkersuisoq for Fisheries, Trapping, Agriculture and Self-Sustainability, Peter Borg, Democratic, has not given hope to find a solution to avoid the closing of PolarRaajat's factory.

But it is Polar Seafood and Royal Greenland that will have to have the Minister that has emphasized several times.

Aasiaat should get more attention

Bolethe Marie Hendriksen believes that Aasiaat should get more attention from politicians, because the city has a regional hospital, an airport and an Atlantic quay.

- This should strengthen our case and the fight to preserve the Polar factory, she says.

- We can see that investments are being made in other municipalities, but the Municipality of Qeqertalik is being overlooked.

- Over the past decade, we have witnessed that our bakery, maternity clinic and Tusass store have closed, and we no longer have a permanent dentist.

- We believe that as the capital of the municipality, we should have more wind in our sails to be able to support development in the rest of the municipality, she says.

The factory should be preserved

According to Polar Raajat, in 2025 the factory purchased services from shops and companies in Aasiaat for 28.5 million kroner. At the same time, the factory employees paid municipal tax of 7.8 million kroner.

That is why it is important that the factory is preserved, says Bolethe Marie Hendriksen.

- The factory workers and the companies that directly or indirectly service the factory, but also the dinghy fishermen, help to support our economy, and we business people in Aasiaat are dependent on this cycle.

- Aasiaat is located 90 km from the upcoming international airport in Ilulissat, and with a good economy in the municipality, we can help promote tourism and thereby also be on the map.

The demonstration in Aasiaat starts on Friday at 11:30 from the sports hall and ends at the Municipality of Qeqertalik's municipal office.