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The fourth business forum “Finnish Business in Moscow” was held on October 30, 2014 in Swissotel Krasnye Holmy. The forum topics this year included construction, investments, logistics, services, and clean technologies. More than 300 representatives of Russian and Finnish businesses have confirmed their willingness to further strengthen investment and trade cooperation between the two countries.
Alexander Shokhin, President of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP) participated in the forum. In his speech he emphasized: "Russian-Finnish relations is an important aspect of Russia's relations with the EU. Finland feels the negative impact of EU sanctions and Russian counter-sanctions. In those industries that have not been touched by the sanctions, we must act much faster. We believe that our economic relations with Finland will be critical in building relationships with partners in other European countries. It could help us continue discuss the continuation of the pragmatic projects with the new composition of the European Commission."
Mr. Shokhin’s perspective to strengthen business ties between Russia and Finland was shared by the chairman of the Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce Esko Aho, and chairman of the Central Union of Finnish EK and construction group SRV Ilpo Kokkila. Maxim Mayorets, a board member and Director of Acquisitions “Renova” Group of Companies, welcomed participants at the forum on behalf of “Skolkovo Innovation Centre.”
According to Mirja Tiri, CEO of the Finnish-Russian Chamber of Commerce, “Finnish companies currently consider it important to enter a dialogue with Russian business. This is evidenced by the interest of Finnish companies in attending the event – which was a chance to meet with Russian business representatives. More than 60 companies have come to Moscow. Finnish companies have a lot to offer to the Russian market, for example, by participating in projects related to modernization of Russian industry. Times are certainly complex for business, but in business you need to look beyond tomorrow. I think that our companies are already doing so”.
The forum was supported by Finnair airlines, the international logistic company “Itella Corporation”, the construction concern “YIT Group”, the largest HR service provider “Barona Group”, Aalto University Executive Education, the world leading manufacturer of lifting equipment “Konecranes”, the supplier of industrial automation and electrification products “Klinkmann”, the energy company “Fortum Oyj” and the law company “Borenius”. The information sponsors are the magazines “Business of Russia”, “Compania”, “Vremja Innovaciy”, “Novye Rubezhi”, “Generalny Director”, “Logisitika”, TV Channel “World Business Channel”, , the online news papers “Kapital Rosi”», “Stroitelstvo.ru” and the International Organisations Research Institute (IORI) of the Higher School of Economics.