Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Finland to visit South Africa and Namibia

 The aim of the visit is to strengthen the commercial and economic relations Finland has with the two countries. South Africa is Finland’s biggest trading partner in sub-Saharan Africa. It is the economic engine and the largest energy market in Africa, and it belongs to the G20, which is composed of the world’s leading economies. In recent years, South Africa has invested heavily in smart city structures and digitalisation.

Namibia is one of the most democratic and stable societies in Southern Africa. It has a special historic relationship with Finland. The country aims to diversify its economy and invest in the green transition. Namibia has significant potential in renewable energy production and an ambitious goal to become one of the world’s leading producers of green hydrogen.

“Southern African countries are investing in green transition and digitalisation. That means new business opportunities for Finnish expertise and know-how. We offer competitive solutions to our partner countries,” Minister Skinnari says.

The Finnish business delegation accompanying Minister Skinnari has expertise and solutions especially in clean energy technologies, smart cities and digitalisation. The delegation, coordinated by Business Finland, includes AW-Energy, Block Solutions Oy, Costiom Oy, Demola Global, Finnfund, Finnish Water Forum, Finnvera Plc, IDControl Oy, Nokia, Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, Syncron Tech Oy, University of Helsinki, Visintum Oy and Wärtsilä Corporation.

Inquiries:

Reetta Härönoja, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister, tel. +358 295 350 740

Tiina Vainio, Special Adviser to the Minister, tel. +358 50 524 6559

Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, Director, Unit for Southern and Western Africa, tel. +358 295 350 456

The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.