New Delhi (NVI): Celebrating 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations this year, India and Finland today reaffirmed their commitment to boost bilateral cooperation and further expand the common ground of existing partnerships.
Both the nations reaffirmed their will to this effect at the 19th Session of the India-Finland Joint Commission which was held here from 20th to 21st November 2019.
The Agenda for the Joint Commission Session was WTO issues, India – EU BTIA, bilateral trade and investment relations, trade barrier issues and measures to promote trade, cooperation in the sectors of power, petroleum and gas, new and renewable energy, environment, cleantech, science, technology and innovations, education and skill development, and labour mobility, digitalization including ICT, transportation, cooperation in the textiles sector, cultural cooperation and tourism cooperation.
The Joint Commission Session was co-chaired by Ms. Nidhi Mani Tripathi, Joint Secretary, Department of Commerce, Government of India, from Indian side, and by Ms. Piritta Asunmaa, Director General, Department for the Americas and Asia, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, from the Finnish side.
Both sides reiterated the useful role of the Joint Commission as a forum for strengthening economic relations between India and Finland.
The deliberations of the Joint Commission reaffirmed the partnership between the two countries.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of India – Finland diplomatic relations. Both India and Finland cooperate on a wide array of issues and as a member of EU, Finland regards India as a strategic partner for balanced and comprehensive trade relations.
Bilateral trade between India and Finland totaled USD 1.247 billion in 2014-15 and USD 1.284 billion in 2016-17. In 2016 Finnish companies have invested USD 419 million between April 2000 to July 2017. Approximately 100 Finnish companies have operations in India and about 30 Indian companies mainly in the software and consultancy sector are active in Finland.
The Finnish side invited India for the 20th session of the Joint Commission in Helsinki in 2021.
-sb
