Finland Times

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä on Monday underscored the importance of the economic relations between Finland and Norway and said that there is huge possibility for development cooperation in the northern regions.

“While the economic relations between Finland and Norway have developed positively, there is, however, plenty of room for developing cooperation further especially in the northern regions,” said Sipilä while speaking at the Arctic Frontiers conference in Tromsø, Norway where he also met his Norwegian counterpart Erna Solberg.

In addition to Arctic expertise and maritime industry, the Prime Minister also focused on the demand for new ideas in many sectors from telecommunications to tourism, said a government press release.

“During its 20-year existence, the Arctic Council has become an important forum of constructive international dialogue,” said Sipilä.

The Prime Ministers discussed topical international issues such as regional security, Brexit and cooperation with the new administration in the United States. 

They also addressed Nordic cooperation and the position of the Nordic countries in the world. Norway took over the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers from Finland at the begin-ning of this year, and Finland will assume the chairmanship of the Arctic Council this spring. During their meeting the Prime Ministers also discussed economic relations between the two countries.

In his opening speech at the panel discussion of the Arctic Frontiers conference, Sipilä noted that Finland has made careful preparations for the two-year chairmanship of the Arctic Council which will start in May

The themes of the Programme for the Finnish Presidency will include environmental protection, connectivity, meteorology and education. 

“Our additional goal is to increase cooperation between the Arctic Council and the Arctic Eco-nomic Council”, Sipilä said in his inaugural speech.

Prime Ministers Sipilä and Solberg took part in an event organised for Finnish and Norwegian companies which promoted cooperation across the northern border between the two countries. 

The following Finnish companies took part in the event: Aker Arctic Technology, Atlas El-ektronik Finland, Beacon Finland, Bluet, Exel Composites, Gateway Norway, Halton Marine, Prizztech, Roadscanners ja Team Arctic Finland / Gaia Consulting.