Katainen and Stubb marketing Finnish educational competence

"While in the United Arab Emirates, Minister Stubb and I have had meetings with the Prime Minister, almost a dozen of other Ministers and several business leaders and senior officials responsible for the country's investments. They were all well aware of the high appreciation of the Finnish education system. The message is clear: there is demand for Finnish competence in this sector and an opportunity to make a move right now. Joint projects relating to education and training provide a unique opportunity for Finland in this wealthy and intensely competitive area. If successful, such projects may help other innovative sectors in Finland enter the market in the Arabian Peninsula", Prime Minister Katainen says.

Prime Minister Katainen also visited a Finnish-Emirati primary school for girls in Al Ain. The thus far most successful education export project of Finland is led by EduCluster Finland which is responsible for two schools in the United Arab Emirates. The principals of both schools are Finnish and the school project initiated two years ago now locally employs almost 50 Finnish teachers.

"I was privileged to see in practice how the professional competence of Finnish teachers, the export of educational competence and bold innovations relating to new concepts benefit all cooperation parties. My visit in Al Raqyah Primary School strengthened my already high confidence in Finnish know-how and innovativeness", Prime Minister Katainen says.

While in the United Arab Emirates, the programmes of Ministers Katainen and Stubb have included meetings with UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Economy, Foreign Trade, Environment & Water, Energy and Education. They have also had meetings with several of the country's highest business leaders in the fields of energy and telecommunications. In addition to bilateral political, trade and economic relations, discussions with the national leaders of the United Arab Emirates focused on regional political issues.

"I am extremely pleased with the opportunity of opening doors to Finnish companies", Minister Stubb says. "Yesterday we asked the business leaders accompanying us how they assess the impact of this trade mission. A dozen of them said they had already agreed on new deals and others believed there will be concrete results within one year. For a minister, this is very rewarding", Stubb says.

Companies represented in the business delegation: Aino Health Management Oy, Arc-Pro Solutions Oy, BaseN Corporation, Capricode Oy, Codenomicon Oy, Commit; Oy, Comptel Corporation, Crown Cro Oy, Ductor Corporation, EduCluster Finland Oy, Eedu Oy, Eigenor Oy, Eltel Networks Corporation, Enersense, International Oy, Environics Oy, Gasum Oy, Halton Group Ltd, HELBUS / Helsinki School of Business Oy, Hubconsepts Inc., HYKSin Ltd, InnoSchool Finland Ltd Consulting, Keitele Forest Oy, Konecranes Plc, Konecranes Middle East, Lappset Group Oy, Maineconsulting Oy, Mantsinen Group Ltd Oy, Mirasys, Hospital Neo / Hermes, Nestor Cables Oy, Niras Finland Oy, Nokia Corporation, Nordic Clinic Oy, Oilon Oy, OK Management Oy / NXme FZ-LLC, Patria Oyj, Pölkky Oy, Relaxbirth Ltd., RTV-Yhtymä Oy, Architecture Office Sigge Ltd, Solarwheeler Oy, Star Arcade Oy, StellarQ Ltd., Trapeze Finland Oy, Vahanen International Ltd., Oy Vallila Interior Ab, Vapo Oy ja Wärtsilä Gulf FZE

Inquiries: Antti Vänskä, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (International Affairs), tel. +358 40 513 1458 and Kari Mokko, Director of Government Communications, tel. +358 40 751 3281