Minister of Economic Affairs Lintilä to visit the United States to discuss energy and bioeconomy
News - Published 15.11.2021
Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will visit the United States on 15–16 November. This is his first visit since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. During his visit, Minister Lintilä will discuss energy, bioeconomy and digitalisation with high-level representatives of the US administration and of the states. He will also meet Finnish companies operating in the United States, and speak at a bioeconomy conference.
Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will speak at an international bioeconomy conference on sustainable wood biomass production in Finland. Wood biomass is used for a number of purposes, such as renewable chemicals, bio-based products and biofuels.
“We need a global bio-based economy. Finnish companies have much to offer in terms of solving global challenges. The United States is an important partner for us, and I believe we can engage in deeper cooperation in fields such as biofuels,” Minister Lintilä says.
During his visit, Minister Lintilä will also meet representatives of Finnish companies operating in the United States to hear what is happening in the local markets.
Minister of Economic Affairs to meet high-level representatives of the states
The Minister will visit the State of Virginia and discuss, among other things, possibilities for cooperation in 6G research with Governor Ralph Northam. The Minister will also visit the Virginia Tech campus, the home of the Commonwealth Cyber Initiative research, development and innovation network.
“This is an extremely fast-advancing technology, and to remain at the cutting edge, small countries like Finland need to build networks with the leading international research institutes,” Minister Lintilä says.
Minister Lintilä will meet Member of Congress Paul Tonko to discuss clean energy objectives and actions taken in the United States. He will also meet high-level representatives of the States of Maine and Michigan. Finland has bioeconomy working groups in both states, coordinated by Business Finland and the Embassy of Finland in Washington DC. The objective of this cooperation is to open up new commercial opportunities for Finnish businesses. The United States is one of Finland’s most important trading partners, and cooperation with individual states plays an important role in exports promotion.
Inquiries:
Teppo Säkkinen, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 50 516 2868
Nina Alatalo, Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs (EU and International Affairs), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 295 047 171
Press release from Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment 15.11.2021