The Murmansk visit comes only about one month after the minister visited the Norwegian town of Kirkenes, located on Barents Sea coast along the border to Murmansk Oblast. The visits come as the Barents Sea is developing as a major economic growth area following projects like the Shtokman project.
The Finnish delegation, headed by Minister Väyrynen, had representatives of 60 companies all interested in offering their expertise in major upcoming energy, transport, mining and construction projects to be carried out in the Murmansk Region in the coming years. There is demand in the region for both expertise and labour.
In his own statements, Minister Väyrynen stressed the key position of Finland and Lapland in transport and logistics projects important for development of the Murmansk Region. He hoped for wider networking of the Northern regions, and for more effective utilisation of existing networks, such as the regional councils.
According to the minister, cooperation among regions yields considerable advantage for business on both sides of the border. Väyrynen emphasised, in particular, the opening of an air route between Murmansk and Rovaniemi, a press release from the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development reports.
Read more about the visit at the Finnish Foreign Ministry’s website
