Hours before the arrival of President Pranab Mukherjee here, Finland today raised the issue of the tax row Nokia has with India, saying their company was facing a "great problem" and "other consequences" were possible due to lack of clarity and stability of rules.
Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said in the present situation investors would be having a question whether they should take risk or not. However, he did not elaborate on what the other consequences can be.
"The Nokia and Vodafone cases have raised some thinking and it is possible that certain investors are careful and prudent. I have not been aware of what governments have been doing. I just would like to point out that usually one needs clarity, you have to know the exact rules and the rules are stable. I understand that Vodafone has won one case last week, so that is positive news," he said.
"Surely I understand that it is a great problem for Nokia and other consequences are possible. Investors would be having a question whether they should take the risk or not. They might consider it as a risk. I haven't been discussing this with others so I would just figure out that this is one element that one has to take notice which is very natural for a businessman," he told a select group of Indian journalists at this residence on the outskirts of Helsinki.
Earlier, Finnish sources said the Nokia issue would certainly be discussed with Mukherjee but refused to go into details, citing secrecy.
Interestingly, both -- Mukerjee and Niinisto -- were earlier Finance Ministers of their countries.
President Mukherjee, who is currently in Norway on the first leg of his two-nation tour, will leave for Finland tonight for a three-day visit.
