Minister Mika Lintilä to visit Expo 2017 in Astana

Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä will travel to the closure of Expo 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan on 9-11 September. The theme of Expo 2017 is future energy options. In its pavilion Finland presented energy expertise and efficiency and cleantech solutions. Over 70 companies took part in the project, which was funded by the Government and the companies. Nearly 280 000 people visited the Finnish pavilion.

Finland’s participation in Expo 2017 has strengthened the relations between the two countries and promoted the business operations of many of the Finnish companies involved. Besides making direct sales, the companies have been able to promote their current projects and initiate new ones.

During his trip, Minister Lintilä will meet Kazakh decision-makers and high-level officials, as well as Finnish companies. On the last day of the Expo Minister Lintilä will chair a seminar analysing the outcomes of the Expo for Finnish companies and discussing how the Government can promote their business after the Expo. The official closing ceremony will take place on Sunday evening.

- Central Asia has been an emerging market for quite some time. In my view, the Expo has been very well timed, and the feedback I have had from Finnish companies indicates they are very happy to have been involved in it. The Expo has generally increased Finnish companies’ interest in the Kazakh market, says Mr Lintilä.

Inquiries:
Akseli Koskela, Special Adviser to the Minister, tel. +358 29 29 504 8267, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment