Nordic Council of Ministers meets on 1 Sept

The ministers of economic affairs of the Nordic Council of Ministers will discuss the recovery of business and industry from the coronavirus crisis at a video conference on 1 September.

Finland will be represented in the conference by Economic Affairs Minister Mika Lintilä, said an official press release.

“Nordic cooperation is valuable and the coronavirus pandemic has further emphasised the need to share experiences between our countries. The Nordic countries are known for their welfare and we must ensure that our economy will be back on its feet after the coronavirus crisis,” said Lintilä.

The meeting will discuss the initiative by the Nordic Council of Ministers to intensify cooperation between the Nordic economies in 2021–2024 and to accelerate economic growth after the coronavirus pandemic.

Sustainable solutions, digitalisation, innovation, and the circular economy are at the heart of the initiative. The council also supports the Nordic countries’ common goal of becoming the most sustainable and integrated region of the world by 2030.

The ministers in the conference will also discuss the Nordic Smart Government project, launched by the council in 2018. The project will result in an electronic business area in which business information will move automatically, safely, and in real time from companies to companies and between public authorities.

“This programme is a good example of effective Nordic cooperation. It will help the business activities of small and medium-sized companies by making electronic services easier to use and by improving access to important information,” said Lintilä.

At the end of the meeting, Lintilä will also present the objectives of Finland’s upcoming presidency of the Nordic Council.