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Home NATIONALInt’l cooperation vital for Arctic region: PM
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Tue, 06 Sep, 2016 12:10:21 AM
FTimes Report, Sep 6
 
Prime Minister Juha Sipilä spoke at the Nordic Cooperation seminar in Helsinki on Monday. Photo Lehtikuva.
Prime Minister Juha Sipilä at a seminar on Monday emphasised the government’s determination to retain Finland’s position as one of the global leaders in activities related to Arctic expertise.
 
Both Nordic cooperation and Arctic matters lie at the core of Finland’s being, and bringing these two themes together feels like a family gathering raised to the power of two, he told the seminar on Arctic Expertise in the Nordic Cooperation.
 
“Finland is an Arctic country. And I mean Finland, the whole of Finland – from top to toe. In our National Strategy for the Arctic Region, we emphasise our determination to retain Finland’s position as one of the global leaders in activities related to Arctic expertise,” the prime minister said.
 
He said international cooperation was absolutely vital when dealing with the Arctic region.
 
The National Strategy for the Arctic Region written in 2013 is now being updated to some extent, according to a press release of the Government Communications Department quoting the prime minister as telling the seminar.
 
“At this time, we will focus on concrete activities based on the existing strategy – and also on following up their implementation. We are also incorporating elements from the current Government Programme, particularly concerning the key Government projects on employment and competitiveness,” said Sipilä.
 
He also pointed out that creation of new jobs as well as growth was essential for the north.
 
Finland is chairing the work of the Nordic Council of Ministers this year. “For us Finns, the Nordic countries are our closest partners and friends – not only in Nordic matters, but also in international ones. Close interaction between us is essential,” said the PM.
 
He said Finland’s goals during its chairmanship were twofold—on the one hand, Finland wanted to build on the existing strengths of Nordic cooperation, such as its knowhow in water resources management. “On the other hand, we have wanted to take Nordic cooperation forward by, for example, mainstreaming the theme of digitalisation in many of the Nordic discussions we have had throughout this year.”
 
All Nordic countries are also Arctic countries. And the fact is that the Nordic Council of Ministers also has an Arctic cooperation programme, the prime minister pointed out, adding, the overall goals of this programme are to support sustainable development in the region, and to create Nordic added value through projects and initiatives.
 
“For us nationally, the focus on coordination and continuation is particularly important as next year we will take up the chairmanship of the Arctic Council. We are committed to building synergies between the two chairmanships,” Sipilä said.
 
He said it was essential that the Nordic countries also remain an effective player in the EU’s Arctic policy as the European Union is an important partner for all Arctic countries – members and non-members alike.
 
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