Minister Väyrynen: Finnish technology expertise to Kazakhstan

Press release 61/2011
23 February 2011

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paavo Väyrynen met with Deputy Prime Minister Aset Issekeshev of Kazakhstan in Helsinki on Wednesday, 23 February. The main focus of the talks was trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. Minister Väyrynen raised, in particular, Finland's expertise of high technology and innovation to the fore.

"Finland has a high level of expertise in every sector that Kazakhstan is now developing. In particular, our know-how of energy efficiency and energy conservation, environment-friendly technologies and innovation in the IT sector are certainly such that they would be beneficial for Kazakhstan," Väyrynen stated. He also considers it important to promote direct links between companies, business and industry.

Kazakhstan has taken Finland as a model country in developing many sectors, such as high technology, energy efficiency and education. Väyrynen considers it important for cooperation between the countries to deepen still further.

"Development of cooperation requires close cooperation between authorities, business and industry. With regard to companies, the functionality and attractiveness of the operating environment are also important," Väyrynen stressed.

On Wednesday the ministers also opened the sixth meeting of the Joint Committee of Finnish and Kazakhstan Governments, focusing on economic cooperation. Experts from various ministries and from business and industry take part in the meeting.

Additional information: Päivi Nevala, Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, mobile tel. +358 40 753 4375, and Katri Kulmuni, Press Attaché to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, mobile tel. +358 400 739 824.