“The Nordic countries have a strong international brand which is associated with positive values and a well-functioning society. We could make much better use of this, both politically and financially,” remarked Katainen during the two-day summer meeting of Nordic prime ministers that ended in Iceland on Tuesday.
Katainen took up the idea of benefiting from Nordic cooperation in increasing export and supporting companies in the internationalisation process, according to an official press release issued on Tuesday.
Norway's prime minister Erna Solberg (4thL), Sweden's prime minister Fredrik Reinfeldt (5thL), Denmark's prime minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt (4thR), Finland's prime minister Jyrki Katainen (3rdR) and Icelnad's prime minister Sigmundur David Gunnlaugsson (5thR) pose with Camilla Gunell, Aland Prime Minister (2ndL), Aleqa Hammond, Prime minister of Greenland (1stR), Kaj Leo Johannesen, Prime minister of Faroe Islands (3rd L), Head of Home Rule Government, Karin Astroom, President of Nordic Council (1stL), Dagfinn Hoybraten, General Secretary of Nordic Council of Ministers (2ndL) at Hof Center on May 27, 2014 as part of the Nordic Prime Ministers Meeting in Akureyri. Photo – AFP / Lehtikuva.
Closer cooperation in the Nordic context is important also because jobs have been lost in the export industry, the role of the northern region has diminished in the export markets in comparison with other EU countries, and emerging economies have not fully used their growth potential.
“Cooperation would diversify our supply while being cost-effective. We could introduce larger product groups and service packages to new markets. For example, Nordic cleantech expertise is in demand not only in Asia but also globally,” said the premier.
He said in concrete terms, Team Norden could mean organising joint trade missions led by one or two Nordic ministers and marketing the northern region for investors and tourists.
He suggested that, as the next step, this would be discussed by Nordic ministers for foreign trade and ministers of economic affairs.
The traditional Nordic prime ministers’ summer meeting was organised this year in the beautiful surroundings of Mývatn and Akureyri in Iceland.
