Tallinn, Stenbock House, 14 November 2012 – On Monday, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip will visit Finland together with Jaak Aaviksoo, Minister of Education and Research, Juhan Parts, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications, and a delegation of researchers and businessmen, where a joint session of the Estonian-Finnish Research and Development Council and an economic forum will be held. The programme will also include a formal meeting with the Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen.
The aim of the visit is to foster cooperation in R&D among universities and businesses alike. Both countries are seeking to increase the attractiveness of the area for businesses and investors as it constitutes a rapidly developing, versatile and integrated region. The parties are also seeking to cooperate in finding better solutions to new challenges.
The third joint session of the Estonian Research and Development Council and the Finnish Research and Innovation Council will address investments in R&D in Estonia and Finland, and their key challenges. In addition, the joint session will discuss the role of the public and the private sectors in supporting rapidly developing and innovative companies in expanding into international market.
The joint session will be attended by the prime ministers and ministers of education and research from both countries, as well as by the Estonian Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications and the Finnish Minister of the Environment. Finland will be represented at the session by Rector of Tampere University Kaija Holli, President of the Finnish Academy Heikki Mannila, Rector of Helsinki University Professor Arto Mustajoki, Rector of Saimaa University of Applied Sciences Anneli Pirttilä, Director of the Finnish Technology and Innovation Fund (TEKES) Pekka Soini, Matti Tukiainen from the Finnish Chamber of Commerce, Professor Päivi Törmä from Aalto University and Finnish State Secretary Olli-Pekka Heinonen.
Estonia will be represented at the session by the members of the Estonian Research and Development Council. These are Gunnar Okk from the Nordic Investment Bank, Toomas Luman from the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Linnar Viik from the Estonian Information Technology College, Rector of the University of Tartu Volli Kalm, Rector of Tallinn University of Technology Andres Keevallik, Mart Saarma from Helsinki University and President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences Richard Villems. Also in attendance at the session will be Mati Karelson in his capacity as an adviser to the PM, Deputy Secretary General Indrek Reimand from the Ministry of Education and Research, and Head of the Department of Economic Development Tea Danilov from the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communication.
The bilateral meeting of prime ministers will focus on reviewing the current state of bilateral relations, discussing the EU’s fiscal and economic situation, and preparations for the new budget. The prime ministers also intend to coordinate their actions with regard to various energy issues.
The business delegation accompanying the prime minister includes representatives from 14 companies. Along with the Estonian and Finnish prime ministers and other ministers, the entrepreneurs will also attend the Estonian-Finnish economic forum ‘Together we are unique’. In addition to the Estonian PM, the participants at the forum will also be greeted by Finnish Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen.
The aim of the forum is to discuss the current state and the future of Estonian-Finnish cooperation. In the opening panel of the forum, President of the Finnish Chamber of Commerce Risto E. J. Pentillä, President of the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Toomas Luman and Vice-President of the Nordic Investment Bank Gunnar Okk will discuss the business environment and the integration of the region's advantages. Minister of Education and Research Jaak Aaviksoo, lecturer Linnar Viik from the Estonian IT College and Tuomo Lähdeniemi from Fountain Park OY will speak about education and start-ups.
In the third panel of the forum, Minister of Economic Affairs and Communications Juhan Parts, Development Director Illimar Paul at the Estonian Logistics Cluster, Executive Director Margus Schults at Tallink Silja OY, Executive Director Kimmo Mäki at Helsinki Port and Vice-Mayor of Helsinki Pekka Sauri will discuss logistics issues and their future.
The business delegation set up by the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry includes Engel Palla (Harju Elekter AS), Tõnis Tamme (Pan-Baltic law firm TRINITI), Aare Tark (Tark Grunte Sutkiene), Tiit Sarapuu (Dentes AS Private Clinic), Karl Kivi (FEMW OÜ), Harri Rästas (CF&S Estonia AS), Jüri Rass (EA Reng AS), Kaido Kukk (UPM-Kymmene Otepää AS), Margus Schults (Tallink Silja OY), Illimar Paul (Estonian Logistics Cluster), Üllas Täht (Ensto Ensek AS), Andrus Mossov (Silberauto Eesti AS), Atso Matsalu (Puukeskus AS), Andres Trink (Merko Ehitus AS), Valdar Liive (Enterprise Estonia, Helsinki office), Toomas Luman (Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Mait Palts (Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Liis Lehesalu (Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) and Jane Juhanson (Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry).
The businessmen are in Finland on a two-day visit. On Tuesday they will visit Lahti.
The visit and the forum are being organised in partnership with the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Estonian Embassy in Finland, the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Finnish Chamber of Commerce and the representative office of Enterprise Estonia in Helsinki.
Additional information:
Liina Kersna
Government’s Media Adviser
Phone: +372 693 5720, mobile: +372 53 00 4674
E-mail: [email protected]
Liis Lehesalu
Coordinator of International Relations
Phone: +372 604 0092, mobile: +372 56 91 31 44
E-mail: [email protected]
