Mr. Väyrynen, who together with a Finnish business delegation is on a round trip in northern Norway, in his speech at a seminar on Norwegian-Finnish partnership highlighted big opportunities for Finnish companies in the Russian Shtokman gas project. He underlined that Finland has extensive experiences from energy cooperation with Russia and said that the country will offer support to Norway and Norwegian oil major StatoilHydro in the Shtokman development process.
At the same time, however, he admitted that his business delegation to Kirkenes first of all included representatives of small and medium-sized regional companies, and not the bigger and more powerful Finnish enterprises.
Mr. Väyrynen also said that his visit to Kirkenes and northern Norway can be seen as a run-up to a trip to Murmansk due in May this year.
In his speech, Mr. Väyrynen highlighted the possible far-reaching effects of the Shtokman project on Kirkenes and northern parts of Finland. He also touched upon the big regional opportunities within tourism, transport and alternative energy.
-We do not have enough contacts across the borders, the minister said, adding that globalization now brings the countries closer together.
Finland has been a driving force in the EU Northern Dimension. Minister Väyrynen expressed hopes for a new Northern Dimension Partnership in Transport and Logistics, expected to be established in fall this year.
Norwegian-Finnish trade turnover today stands at about 2,5 billion EUR
Dag Terje Andersen and Paavo Väyrynen (Photo: Norwegian Barents Secretariat)
