Finland Times

 

Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen. Photo - Lehtikuva.

Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen and International Development Minister Pekka Haavisto would leave for a seven-day tour of Ethiopia and Tanzania today (Sunday), said a government press release.

 

The visit is aimed at strengthening bilateral relations and trade and development links, as well as promoting export and internationalisation opportunities for Finnish companies in the two African countries.

 

In Tanzania, the ministers will also conduct negotiations on bilateral development cooperation. The trip to Tanzania will include a short visit to Zanzibar.

 

A business delegation, assembled by Finpro, with representatives from 27 Finnish companies involved internationally in the fields of energy, infrastructure construction, logistics, the information society, extractive industry, education, health, and agriculture and forestry, is also accompanying the ministers.

 

International Development Minister Pekka Haavisto. Photo - Lehtikuva.

During their trip, Prime Minister Katainen and Minister Haavisto will meet top-level political leaders and cabinet members from Ethiopia and Tanzania, as well as executives from major local companies. The programme will also include a meeting with the leadership of the African Union.

 

In Ethiopia, the ministers will meet the country's President Mulatu Teshome, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, who has studied in Finland, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr. Tedros Adhanom Gebreyesus and other members of the cabinet.

 

In Tanzania, they will meet Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete, President of Zanzibar Ali Mohamed Shein, Prime Minister of Tanzania Mizengo Pinda and several other cabinet members.

 

As two of the world's fastest growing economies, Ethiopia and Tanzania provide Finnish companies with the prospect of a major expanding market area. Both the countries are long-term partners of Finland's development cooperation though Finland's trade relations with Ethiopia and Tanzania are still in their embryonic stages.