Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Mari Kiviniemi to visit Moscow

Press release 336/2005
28 October, 2005


Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Mari Kiviniemi will visit Moscow between 31 October and 2 November. There she will attend the chairman meeting of the Finnish-Russian Economic Commission on 31 October. The Russian co-chair of the Commission is German Gref, Russia’s Minister of Economic Development and Trade.

During the meeting, the Ministers intend to handle, for instance, questions related to promotion of trade and investments, cooperation in innovations, forestry issues, and the current situation of the EU-Russia relations.

The other main theme of the visit will be Minister Kiviniemi’s participation in an export promotion event of the Finnish food industry. In addition, the Minister will open in Moscow an export forum presenting Finnish hotel construction industry.

Last year, the volume of trade between Finland and Russia amounted to almost 10 billion euros. According to this year’s trade statistics, Russia has become Finland’s biggest trading partner. Also the amount of Finnish investments in Russia is increasing. The Economic Commission and its working groups are tasked with promoting the general operating conditions for business and creating new contacts.

Additional information: First Secretary Marja Liivala, Unit for Russia, tel. +358 40 827 3215, Special Advisor to the Minister Satu Mäki, tel. +358 40 829 3298.