Minister for Housing, Energy and the Environment Kimmo Tiilikainen will visit to India on 3–5 October 2017 to promote exports and internationalisation.

The business delegation accompanying the Minister has 25 representatives from the energy, cleantech, bioeconomy, technology and environmental technology sectors, said an official press release.

“India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. While the rapid growth puts strain on the environment, it also opens up extensive opportunities. There is a lot of competence in Finnish companies, and this can be harnessed to support the sustainable development of Indian economy and energy sector,” said Tiilikainen.

On Tuesday, 3 October, Tiilikainen and the business delegation will attend a business seminar in Lucknow, the capital of the state of Uttar Pradesh. The minister will also meet the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath and members of his government.

They will discuss the further development of the energy and industrial cooperation between Finland and Uttar Pradesh, investments in sustainable urban development and intelligent infrastructures and use of environment-friendly technologies.

On Wednesday, 4 October, the Minister and the delegation will attend a business seminar in Delhi. Later the same day Tiilikainen will also meet members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s cabinet, including the recently appointed Minister of New and Renewable Energy Raj Kumar Singh, who is hosting the visit, as well as Minister for Environment, Forestry, Climate Change, Science & Technology and Earth Sciences Harsh Vardhan and Minister of State for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri.

In addition to energy, they will discuss environmental and climate issues, sustainable urban development, circular economy, and investments in sustainable and modern industrial production.

New potential fields of cooperation include the developing of electric car recharging systems, environmentally sound use of coal cleaning waste, modernisation of coal power plants, storage of renewable energy, and energy recovery and recycling.