Chamber Explores Economic Cooperation Opportunities with Finnish Business Delegation
The Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry received a Finnish business delegation today, led by Yarno Sirjala, Deputy Minister and Undersecretary of the Ministry for Foreign Trade in Finland, and the Finnish Ambassador to Qatar, as part of efforts to strengthen economic and commercial cooperation between the two countries.
Welcoming the visiting delegation, the Chamber emphasized that relations between the two nations are long-standing and solid. It noted that geopolitical risks are now directly impacting governments and the business sector, as well as investment destinations, supply chain management, and partner selection, making diverse and reliable economic relationships strategic assets.
The Chamber highlighted that total bilateral merchandise trade between the two countries grew by 27.5% annually in 2024, stressing that the current priority is to transform this progress into a sustainable trend by diversifying traded products, engaging more companies, and enhancing market access opportunities in both countries.
It added that Finnish companies possess deep expertise in cybersecurity, secure communications, critical infrastructure protection, advanced engineering, and specialized industrial solutions. Effective cooperation requires a long-term model encompassing joint investment, technology transfer, and vocational training. The Chamber expressed hope for further follow-up and the exchange of constructive proposals, given the friendly political relations between the two countries.
For his part, the head of the Finnish delegation thanked the Kuwaiti side for the warm reception, expressing his pleasure at being in Kuwait.
He affirmed that economic relations between the two countries are excellent and provide a strong foundation for future development, noting numerous opportunities in education, technology, security, and defense sectors. He pointed out that Kuwait’s shift toward economic diversification creates promising prospects for bilateral cooperation.
The Finnish Ambassador to Qatar delivered a speech thanking the Chamber for its excellent organization and hospitality, expressing his delight at introducing Finland’s advanced technology and clean environment.
The meeting included a presentation by the Managing Director of Tesi Investment Company, which outlined investment opportunities in Finland, including partnerships with Finnish companies and investment funds.
Participating Finnish companies also presented their activities and solutions in defense and security systems, information technology and cybersecurity investment, satellite manufacturing, and the education sector through the Finnish National Agency for Education.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the Chamber reaffirmed its commitment to supporting initiatives that strengthen economic relations between the two countries, hoping that the discussions will yield clear cooperation opportunities to be translated into actionable and implementable steps.
