RIYADH, 4 October — Finnish Minister of Foreign Trade Jari Vilen will arrive in the Kingdom tomorrow on a five-day visit at the head of a 17-member delegation. He is scheduled to visit both Riyadh and Jeddah.
Arab News spoke to Vilen in the setting of the Finnish Parliament building in Helsinki as he prepared to set out on the visit which is expected to mark the beginning of an East-West dialogue on the foreign policies of both countries.
Vilen said he looked forward to finding more possibilities for trade opportunities between the Kingdom and Finland for the benefit of both economies. He said after the Sept.11 events there was a growing market in the Middle East for European products.
He said he would be finalizing trade negotiations and signing agreements with the Kingdom during the visit, which he described as essentially fact-finding. Finnish companies would also be looking at the possibility of investing in Saudi Arabia.
Exchange of expertise in education and vocational training was also on the cards.
He said he was interested in teaming up with the Kingdom in the tourism sector.
Finland sought to develop this sector, especially in rural areas such as Lapland.
He would also like to see the European Union and Gulf Cooperation Council forge strong relations in the near future.
He said Nokia plays a pivotal role in Finland’s economy and is one of the main sources of revenue.
Nokia is to Finland what oil is to the Kingdom, he said.
Asked about Finland’s position in the Arab-Israeli conflict, Vilen said UN resolutions in this regard were clear.
Violence should however stop from both sides, he added.
Vilen’s delegation will include representatives of Nokia, UPM paper mill, information security company Nixu Ltd and NAPS solar power company. Some of these companies already have partnerhips with Saudi firms.
Arab News visited some of these companies and found that they were keen to develop business ties with the Kingdom.
