Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lehtomäki to depart on an export promotion visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates

Press release 7/2007
10 January, 2007

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki will make an export promotion visit to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates on 15-18 January.

The Minister will be accompanied by a Finnish delegation with representation from over twenty companies, including representatives from the paper, metal, energy and telecommunications industries, environmental technology, education sector and food industry.

The purpose of the visit is to make the expertise of Finnish companies known among the authorities and companies of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, gather up-to-date information about the development of business environment in the target countries, and to promote investments from this region to Finland. At the moment, the economies of both target countries are growing rapidly, and the current investment boom in these countries offers great opportunities for increasing and diversifying the trade and investments.

In Saudi Arabia, Lehtomäki will meet, for instance, Minister of Trade Hashim Al-Yaman, who hosts the visit, Foreign Minister Saud Al-Faisal, and other key ministers. In addition to promoting economic and commercial co-operation and handling other bilateral affairs, in her meetings the Minister will discuss the situation of the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, as well as the relations between the EU and the Gulf Cooperation Council. During the visit, preparations will also be made for the signing of an investment agreement between Finland and Saudi Arabia, to take place later this year.

In the United Arab Emirates, Lehtomäki's visit will be hosted by Minister of Economy Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al- Qasimi. In addition to Al-Qasimi, Lehtomäki is scheduled to meet, for instance, Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nahyan and other ministers. In addition to trade relations and bilateral affairs, the topics of discussion will include other regional questions of current interest, and WTO affairs.

In addition, in all three cities that Lehtomäki visits - Riyadh, Abu Dhabi and Dubai – business seminars will be organised in cooperation with local chambers of commerce.

Additional information: First Secretary Leena Pylvänäinen, Unit for the Middle East and North Africa, tel. +358 9 1605 6278, and Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Juha Pyykkö, tel. +358 9 1605 6171