The UAE-Finland joint committee meets in Helsinki

The UAE-Finland Joint Committee based on the Agreement on Economic, Industrial and Technical Cooperation between Finland and the United Arab Emirates meets in Helsinki on 23-25 September. The previous meeting of the Joint Committee was held in Abu Dhabi in 1998.

The UAE delegation is led by H.E. Mohammed Khalifa Bin Yousef Al Suwaidi, Director General of the Department of Economic Affairs and International Cooperation of the UAE Foreign Ministry. The Finnish side is chaired by H.E. Maria Serenius, Deputy Director General of the Division for Africa and the Middle East at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. A number of Finnish companies are also taking part in the meeting.

The cooperation sectors discussed during the session include ICT, health, environment and food industry.

Despite its small size the UAE is Finland's most important export market in the Middle East. The value of exports of the first five months of this year was 200 million euros. Last year's exports rose to 380 million euros.

More information: Ambassador Risto Rekola, tel. 040-754 4406, or Deputy Director General Maria Serenius, 040-5212803.