Finn trade team due in '08

A high-level business delegation from Finpro, a consulting organisation focused on accelerating the "internationalisation" of Finnish companies, will visit Kolkata and the eastern region early next year to explore business opportunities between India and Finland.

The delegation, which will consist of government officials from Finland and industrialists, will discuss issues like starting more direct flights between India and Finland, apart from business opportunities between the two countries, said Asko Numminen, consul of Finland.

However, Kolkata might not be in the immediate radar of Finland for direct connectivity, as the new flights were likely to be introduced from one of the southern states, either Chennai or Bangalore, said Numminen.

He further said, the bilateral trade between India and Finland was $ 0.5 billion last fiscal, and it was growing at the rate of 20 per cent annually.

In spite of the fact that big Finish companies like Nokia have their base in India, India accounted for 1 per cent of Finland's foreign trade, said Numminen.

Sustainable development, energy and infrastructure were some of the potential areas growth, he said.

Also, India could learn from the Finnish sustainable forest management model, whereby private ownership of forests had been encouraged in Finland while reaping benefits from the forest resources, he said.

"Land is a critical issue in India. Finland can share its expertise in this regard with India. However, any solution to the land problem should be according to Indian conditions," said Numminen.