Prospects for cooperation with Finland discussed at Tatarstan Industry and Trade Ministry

5 February 2010, 18:18

(Kazan, February 5, Tatar-inform). The joint Tatarstan-Finland working group on trade and economic cooperation has held the 8th session at the premises of the Tatarstan Industry and Trade Ministry. The parties discussed the past experience and prospects for bilateral relations.

The group is co-chaired by the Tatarstan first deputy Industry and Trade Minister Vladimir Soloviev and the head of a department at the Ministry for Employment and Economic Development of Finland Henrik Raiha. Attendees at the meeting were representatives from ministries, associations and companies from Tatarstan and Finland.

Opening the session, Vladimir Soloviev noted that the past Tatarstan-Finland investment forum had evidenced that both Tatarstan and Finland businesses were interested in furthering cooperation in various branches. Several cooperation memorandums were signed. “We cannot but be pleased, since this is a real, tangible result of our work,” enhanced V. Soloviev.

Mr Raiha in turn thanked the deputy minister for the warm reception and effective agenda of the visit.

The parties discussed prospective areas for cooperation between production companies and associations in Tatarstan and Republic of Finland. Some projects for joint implementation in Tatarstan were presented.

The Lahti innovative technology park project manager Salem Banafa briefed the meeting on plans to implement projects related to ecology and energy saving in Tatarstan. He proposed to jointly devise a programme for people, teaching them “ecological” treatment of household waste, to be further collected, transported and recycled.

The European Batteries Oy chairman of the board Eero Nuutinen expressed intention to find a partner in Tatarstan, to roll out production of lithium batteries for electricity-powered transport.

The Consortium Sofi company general director Erkki Leppanen held a presentation of the Sofi group and said it would in spring set up a representation that would search for partners and organise joint ventures. As examples, he recalled the mountain village in Sochi and the polar centre in the Yamalo-Nenets autonomous district.

The UIT Lentek’s general director Markku Ukkola reported on the company’s experience in housing construction.

Some projects in the fields of healthcare, education and culture were presented during the session as well.

The meeting’s participants noted that launching direct air communication between Kazan and Helsinki would be conducive to expanding cooperation.

Summarising the event, Tatarstan first deputy industry minister Vladimir Soloviev noted that all the proposals related to cooperation, made at the today’s session and yesterday’s direct meetings, would be included in the minutes of the meeting, to be later elaborated on and implemented, reports the ministry’s press service.
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