LDC Future Forum in Helsinki to seek solutions to problems of LDCs

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the United Nations will organise a Future Forum on the Least Developed Countries (LCD Future Forum) in Helsinki on 4–6 March. The Forum will discuss how to harness Finnish expertise in science, technology and innovation to foster development in the world’s least developed countries. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend the Future Forum.

The event will focus on the role of innovations in education and in creating jobs, encouraging entrepreneurship and diversifying economies. The Forum will be attended by ministers, decision-makers, researchers and representatives of the UN and international organisations as well as those of the private sector, government and civil society.

“Multilateral cooperation is necessary in the current geopolitical situation. Finland, the least developed countries and the UN will work together to find ways to promote sustainable development worldwide. This Forum provides a platform for bringing together various actors,” says Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen.

“The emerging economies offer growth potential for Finnish companies. We want to link Finnish expertise and innovations to the development of these countries,” says Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio.

The Forum is one of the series of five Future Forums organised by Finland and the UN. The UN partner is the United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS). This year, other partners include the United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER), FERDI and the OECD Development Center.