Turkish Foreign Trade Minister Tüzmen visits Finland

Press release 154/2005
13 May, 2005

Turkish Foreign Trade Minister Kürsad Tüzmen and a business delegation will visit Finland on 18-20 May at the invitation of Foreign Trade and Development Minister Paula Lehtomäki. The purpose of the visit is to strengthen trade relations between the countries and to discuss Turkey's EU membership process. In accordance with the decision of the European Council in December, Turkey is scheduled to launch membership talks with the EU in the autumn.

The trade volume between Finland and Turkey has developed very positively during the past few years. Last year Finnish exports to Turkey increased 19 percent totalling 444 million euros. On the basis of the export value Turkey ranks the 20th most important market for Finland. Imports from Turkey increased 22 percent totalling 264 million euros.

Minister Tüzmen will be accompanied by a 25-member business delegation representing various sectors, namely the textile and garment industry, metal, steel and iron, home appliances and industrial kitchen machines, packaging industry, construction, cosmetics and cleaning materials, food and agricultue as well as logistics.

During his visit Minister Tüzmen will also meet with Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen and Trade and Industry Minister Mauri Pekkarinen. Ministers Tüzmen and Lehtomäki will open a Turkish-Finnish Business Forum seminar in Helsinki on 19 May.

Further information: Director Merja Lindroos-Binham, tel +358 9 160 55046, and First Secretary Nicola Lindertz, tel. +358 9 160 56146, at the Unit for EU Enlargement, and Press Attaché to the Minister Anna Tonttila, gsm +358 40 513 1669.