Minister Skinnari to meet both his Swedish colleagues in Stockholm

Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit Stockholm on 30 August to meet Sweden’s Minister for International Development Cooperation Peter Eriksson and Minister for Foreign Trade Ann Linde.

The purpose of the visit is to discuss topical questions in development cooperation and trade policy. It is also an excellent opportunity to talk about the priorities of the Finnish Government and Finland’s priorities during its Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

“Sweden is a close and like-minded partner for Finland in development policy. We need to cooperate closely with Sweden and other Nordic countries to solve problems associated with the promotion of democracy and human rights, one key challenge being the advancement of the rights of women and girls,” Minister Ville Skinnari said.

The ministers for development cooperation will also talk about the reforming of the EU’s development financing and the ways to increase the role of the private sector in development cooperation, among other topics.

Trade policy priorities of the next Commission, the state of the multilateral trading system and the EU’s bilateral trade relations are among the topics Minister Skinnari intends to discuss with Minister Ann Linde.

“The global economy is at the moment under increasing protectionist pressures and uncertainties that potentially have the greatest impact on small open economies such as Finland and Sweden. It is important that the EU continue to advocate an open, ambitious and rules-based trade policy,” Minister Skinnari said.

The Finnish Government’s focus on sustainable development and its plans to prepare a broad national strategy for Africa are among the topics Minister Skinnari will discuss with both his minister colleagues. During his visit to Stockholm, the minister will also meet representatives of the local business and industry.

Inquiries: Juha Niemi, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister, tel. +358 50 478 1387 and Tiina Vainio, Special Adviser (communications and media relations), tel. +358 50 524 6559

The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are in the format [email protected]