Finnish-Chinese Trade Forum produces billion-euro sales
Lehtikuva / Marja AirioThe recent visit of a large-scale Chinese business delegation produced significant trade agreements for Finnish companies. The trade agreements signed between Chinese and Finnish companies during the visit totalled to 1,4 billion Euros. For instance Metso and Nokia received major orders to China.
The Finnish-Chinese Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum was held in Helsinki on July 9-10th. The extensive Chinese delegation for promoting export and investment was directed by the Vice Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Gao Hucheng. The delegation was invited to Finland by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Paavo Väyrynen and the Minister of Economic Affairs, Mauri Pekkarinen.
In addition to the official delegation, the event was attended by some 240 Chinese representatives from different business sectors. The delegation was received by more than 300 Finnish business representatives.
The objective of the visit, which was published in advance, was to promote bilateral trade and investments as well as enabling networking between Finnish and Chinese businesses.
The aims of the forum were met notably when the Finnish companies released information about the large orders they had received during the event.
Metso informed the press of a massive 260 million Euro sales of paper machinery to eastern China. Also Nokia signed significant contracts with the representatives of the Chinese delegation. The value of the contracts was not announced publicly.
China is Finland's fourth most significant trade partner, whose importance has increased in the past year. While a number of large Finnish companies have operated in China for several years already, the expertise of small and medium Finnish enterprises has also stirred up interest in China.
