Minister Skinnari to attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum

Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will visit St Petersburg on 2–5 June. Minister Skinnari will attend the St Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The International Economic Forum will bring together influential leaders from the world of business and economics from various parts of the globe, offering an excellent platform for exchange of views with representatives of business and political life.

A meeting of the Finnish-Russian Intergovernmental Commission for Economic Cooperation will be held in connection with SPIEF. The Commission is co-chaired by Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Skinnari and Russian Minister of Industry and Trade Denis Manturov. At their meeting, the co-chairs will discuss the commercial and economic relations between Finland and Russia and promising fields of cooperation. 

“I will have a meeting with Minister Manturov in St Petersburg. We will discuss opportunities for cooperation, focusing on the environment, climate, 5G technology, the forest sector and logistics. I see plenty of opportunities for Finnish companies in Russia in these sectors,” says Minister Skinnari.  
 
While in St Petersburg, Minister Skinnari will also have meetings with at least Alexei Chekunkov, Minister for the Development of the Russian Far East and Arctic, and the Governors of St Petersburg and Leningrad Oblast. 

In addition, Minister Skinnari will participate in panel discussions on responsible business and green economy. Finnish companies will also be represented in the Forum. 

More than 900 Finnish companies are currently established in Russia, and the value of Finnish investments in the country totals approximately EUR 14 billion. Russia is the sixth most important destination for Finnish exports and the second largest country of origin for Finnish imports. 
 
Inquiries: 
Juha Niemi, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, tel. +358 50 4766 417 and 
Mikko Kivikoski, Deputy Director General, tel. +358 50 522 3664