NAIROBI, KENYA, OCTOBER 31 — Finland’s Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä is leading a Team Finland visit to promote exports and internationalisation in Kenya.
The mission which commences today (October 31) to November 3 is meant to cement bilateral trade relations and scout for investment opportunities in the country.
The business delegation accompanying the Minister has as many as 50 representatives from companies and research institutes in the digital, energy, bioeconomy, cleantech, mining, mineral, education and health sectors among others. Altogether 31 parties will be represented.
According to an official communiqué from the Embassy of Finland in Nairobi, a broad range of Finnish companies are interested in cooperation and trade relations with Kenya.
“We are proud to be hosting a business delegation of this size and significance. The opportunities of the African market are now being realized at the top of Finnish political agenda, and we see our long-term partner Kenya as the cornerstone of our engagement with the continent,” Ambassador of Finland Mr Erik Lundberg said.
“Promoting pro-growth policies and trade is also a part of Finland’s comprehensive approach to development,” Lundberg added.
On Thursday (November 1) Business Finland and the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) together with the Embassy of Finland will host a “Doing Business with Finland” seminar in Nairobi, which will be attended by Finnish and Kenyan companies from a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on education, health and energy.
The business-focused seminar, with a variety of Finnish and Kenyan business stakeholders includes many sector-specific meetings in different combinations of Finnish and African representatives of the education, energy, cleantech and health sectors, among others.
Cooperation opportunities will be one of the topics in the meetings.
During the Team Finland’s stay in Kenya, Minister Lintilä and his delegation will meet National Treasury Cabinet Secretary (Kenya ) Henry Rotich, Energy CS Charles Keter, Health CS Sicily Kariuki, Industrialisation, Trade and Cooperation CS Peter Munya and KEPSA CEO Carole Kariuki.
They will also meet representatives of the UN and international financial institutions such as the African Development Bank and the European Investment Bank.
Companies and research institutions in the delegation include Aalto University, Eduix, Fiare, Finland University, Finnish Fund for Industrial Cooperation, Fortum eNext – Fortum Power and Heat, Geological Survey of Finland, Global EcoProcess Services, Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences, Isohanni, Lillbacka Powerco, Logonet, Molok, Omnia, Oulu University of Applied Sciences and Outotec.
Others are PerkinElmer Wallac, Polar Partners, Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences, Solar Water Solutions, Soprano, Tampere Adult Education Centre, Tampere University of Applied Sciences, University of Helsinki, University of Tampere, University of Turku, University Properties of Finland, UpCode, Valmet, Vamed Health Projects Finland and Wärtsilä.
Team Finland comes barely a few weeks after KEPSA led a delegation to an investment forum in Helsinki earlier this month, where it strengthened trade ties with Finland.
READ:Kepsa in final touches as it rallies business delegation to Finland
The Kenyan team used the forum to pitch for business while strengthening bilateral trade and corporation between companies from the two countries.
The investment forum also gave Kenyan companies an opportunity to learn on modules that will help them benefit from Finnpartnerships.
Finnpartnership is a Finnish business partnership programme that provides advisory services and financial support for business activities of Finnish companies in developing countries.
Finnfund is responsible for the management and implementation of the programme on behalf of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.
It supports feasible and commercially viable partnerships between companies in Finland and in developing countries.
Kenya and Finland have enjoyed a good diplomatic relation dating back to June 1965, with Finland recognizing Kenya as key in maintaining regional stability in addition to its diversified economy.
It has been pushing for trade in Kenya through “Team Finland” network which promotes Finland and its interests abroad.
This is the internationalisation of Finnish enterprises, investments in Finland, and the country brand.
:Kepsa leads mission to Finland as it seeks deeper trade ties
