Finland focuses on sustainability to strengthen ties with UAE – News

Finland has been named the happiest country in the world, also topping many categories

Ville Skinnari, Minister of Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland. – Photos provided

Finland is keen to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the UAE in a wide range of areas ahead of the COP28 summit, with a focus on sustainable development and climate action, the Finnish minister said in Abu Dhabi.

Finnish Minister of Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari pointed out that Finland can provide expertise in different economic sectors. “As always, Finland is willing to follow the example of our technology. We have leading technologies, especially in the fields of energy, renewable energy and circular economy,” he told Khaleej Times in an interview during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Finland was voted the happiest country in the world, also ranking high in technology, education, innovation, life expectancy, gender equality, governance, human capital, services and more.

The minister emphasized that Finnish companies have been able to create sustainable business models. “Wasting energy is something we talk about a lot. How can we really make money from waste and energy in a sustainable way.”

According to Skinnari, Finland is very focused on digitization, especially 5G networks. “Nokia is the leading telecommunications network provider. We used to connect people with mobile phones. The mobile phone revolution started in Finland in the 1990s. Now we are connecting machines to the 5G network,” he said, noting that Finland is already a major player in the Gulf region. The tourism industry launched 5G pilot projects.

“Of course, there are also industrial solutions for the oil and gas industry. So, 5G is really a hot topic in the industry. We are seeing very good results in the Gulf region and hope to see it in the UAE.”

Tourism is another important sector in Finland, Skinnari said. “We can increase tourism here for the UAE, but we welcome more Emiratis to Finland. Not only because of our beautiful nature, but also because of business opportunities. We have great startups, great technology, and probably every year Helsinki hosts the best and biggest start-up events in the world. So, I see a lot of opportunities to collaborate and collaborate.”

The minister highlighted the health sector as another area of ​​cooperation. “We have great expertise in the health sector. Now, when it comes to wellbeing, health technology and hospitals, the region is very interested in researching our solutions.”

Skinnari said that Finland is willing to cooperate in the field of education. “Finland is rated as the top country in the world. So there is a lot of interest in how we can cooperate in the areas of vocational training and university cooperation. We are very eager to launch our expertise here. So, many young people are very willing to come and work here , start a business here, start a business, and so on. So, the scope of our cooperation is very broad.”

Bilateral trade surges

The minister pointed out that bilateral trade between Finland and the UAE amounted to 425 million euros in 2021 and that the figures for 2022 will be even better. “The UAE is Finland’s second largest exporter in the Gulf. Trade is picking up. We see a lot of potential in the renewable energy and circular economy sectors.”

Finnish exports include the paper and pulp industry, machinery and spare parts, wood products, chemicals, packaging materials, etc.

He noted that Finnish design companies are finding success in the UAE. “Following Expo 2020 Dubai, we are seeing more design firms operating here. They are doing a great job. We really stand out with our simplicity, combining a sustainable essence with very high quality interior design Combined, used for different purposes such as home, industry, school, hospital, etc.”

He called hosting COP28 a “major milestone” and noted that Finland will play an important role during the summit. “We are really trying to make COP28 different and successful. I think the most important thing is how we prepare for COP28 for the whole world. And how Finland contributes to the UAE in this preparation. We understand each other and we There really has to be solutions in the areas of climate change, mitigation, adaptation and education. Finland has a lot to offer the UAE and the UAE has a lot to offer Finland. So our countries are really complete with each other.”