State to stake out Arctia Shipping's future business activities
The Government will appoint a working group to prepare a proposal for presentation to the Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy regarding the development of Arctia Shipping Ltd’s business operations. Chaired by Director General Eero Heliövaara, the working group is due to submit its proposal for action by the end of the year. Special attention in the proposal will be paid to the cost-efficiency of ice-breaking operations, assurance of the supply of and access to vital resources, and risk management.
The appointment of the working group was endorsed by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Policy on the basis of the report on Arctia Shipping prepared by rapporteur Lauri Ratia. The report discusses how ice-breaking operations in the Finnish sea areas could be implemented as effectively as possible with a view to government finances by utilising Arctia Shipping, a company wholly owned by the State. Additionally, the report offers suggestions as to how the company’s business operations could be developed in respect of the Polar regions in a way that contributes to the overall goal of economic efficiency. All operations need to be consistent with the principles of sustainable development and due consideration given to the requirements imposed by the sensitive Arctic environment.
“I find it extremely important that the extensive debate on the company and the resulting report are being converted into tangible action. Now we will explore the best ways of pairing the company’s first-rate expertise with its high-standard resources in order to respond to the national needs with due regard to the economic realities. First and foremost, we have to make sure that ice-breaking on the Baltic is accomplished under all circumstances, while not forgetting the economic potential offered by the Polar regions. The two objectives can be combined responsibly in full compliance with the principles of sustainable development,” says Minister Sirpa Paatero responsible for the ownership steering of state-owned companies.
Inquiries: Minister Sirpa Paatero; Advisor Valtteri Aaltonen, tel. +358 50 462 6693, [email protected], and Director General Eero Heliövaara, Government Ownership Steering Department, tel. +358 295 160 150, [email protected]