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Sun, 28 Feb, 2016 12:04:55 AM FTimes Report, Feb 28  Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini. File Photo Lehtikuva. Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini is expected to visit Australia and New Zealand from 29 February to 5 March 2016 with the aim to promote awareness of Finnish business activities and innovations and strengthen political relations with these countries.
He would visit Canberra, Sydney and Melbourne as well as Auckland in New Zealand during the six-day tour, according to a press release of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Minister Soini will be accompanied by a delegation of nine companies and organisations. The Finnish foreign minister will meet both countries' Foreign Ministers and Ministers responsible for the business sector and innovations.
Their discussions would focus on the economic relations and topical foreign and security policy questions, developments in Asia, and China's significance, said the release issued on 23 March.
Soini’s visit is a part of the Finnish Government's export promotion efforts.
Like Australia, Finland participates in NATO's Enhanced Operations Partners programme (EOP).
During the visit, Finland and Estonia will host business forums focusing on innovation in Canberra and Auckland with the aim to raise awareness of them as resourceful partners and to help the accompanying companies in networking.
Minister of Defence Niinistö will travel to Australia in March, and important Australian business leaders will visit Finland at the turn of June and July during their annual tour of Europe.
In Melbourne, Soini will meet representatives of the large Finnish community in Australia. One of the objectives of the visit is to strengthen the relations between Estonia and Finland.
The visit is organised in cooperation with Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia Marina Kaljurand and her business delegation.
Estonia will open an Embassy in Canberra, co-located in the same building where Finland has its Embassy.
Many Finnish companies have already established business activities in Australia and New Zealand. There were significant purchasing power and plenty of untapped potential that could be harnessed, said the release.
Both countries are firmly engaged in the Asian economic development. Known for their western business culture and developed infrastructure. They also serve as a gateway for many foreign companies to expanding business opportunities in Asia.
The companies and organisations participating in the visit are Cargotec, Comptel, Exel Composites, Ekokem, Fortum/Posiva, Patria, Slush, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd and Wärtsilä.
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| Friday, 26 April, 2024 |
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