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Minister Lintilä’s Team Finland mission to Australia and New Zealand to focus on smart cities

Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment
Publication date 23.2.2018 15.04
Press release

Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will head a Team Finland mission to Auckland and Wellington in New Zealand and to Sydney, Melbourne and Newcastle in Australia on 26 February – 3 March 2018. The business delegation to accompany the visit consists mainly of companies providing smart city concepts and waste to energy solutions. The aims of the visit are to promote Finnish exports, further develop existing cooperation and open the way for new partnerships.

In New Zealand, the minister will meet Minister for Research, Science, Innovation, Energy and Resources Megan Woods and discuss with representatives of the City of Auckland. In Australia, the minister will meet Treasurer Tim Pallas and Minister for Trade, Investment, Innovation, the Digital Economy and Small Business Philip Dalidakis from the State of Victoria, Chief Commissioner of the Greater Sydney Commission Lucy Turnbull, CEO Innes Willox from the Australian Industry Group representing the industry employers in Australia, and Lord Mayor of Melbourne and Mayor of Ballarat.

The minister will also attend the New Zealand–Finland and Australia–Finland Innovation Forum on Better Cities events in Auckland and Sydney where companies can showcase their expertise and form new partnerships. The Australia–Finland Innovation Forum is organised for the fourth year running.

Research and scientific cooperation between New Zealand and Finland is very active. Finland’s goods exports to New Zealand amounted to EUR 71 million in 2016. New Zealand is, however, of greater importance for the Finnish economy than the trade statistics would suggest as many Finnish companies operate in New Zealand through their subsidiaries located in Australia.

Finland has extensive economic interests in Australia. The Australian economy has been growing already for over 26 years, and the growing population and urbanisation in the country offer significant opportunities for Finnish companies. Nearly 40 Finnish subsidiaries are located in Australia, and some 200 Finnish companies operate there through representatives. Finland’s goods exports to Australia are around EUR 400 million. Services exports are also growing rapidly, currently amounting to some EUR 250 million.

The health sector, research, smart infrastructure, waste management and waste to energy, tourism, and defence equipment industry are Finland’s key export promotion projects in New Zealand and Australia.

Companies and other delegation participants: CS Control Software, Exel Composites, JTA Connection, Nokia, Outotec, Patria, Quuppa, VTT and Wirepas.

Inquiries:
Jannika Ranta, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 50 340 2250
Akseli Koskela, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 46 923 2584

 
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