The parties stressed that in the current economic climate, there is an urgent need for further intensification of business ties between Finland and St. Petersburg, involving new members, including young entrepreneurs.
The protocol was signed by the Chairman of the Committee for External Relations of St. Petersburg E.D. Grigoriev and the Finnish FGA coordinator A. Blum. Positive results and successful format of long-term cooperation between the parties and the efficiency of Finnish businesses in the framework of FGA were mentioned, and the priority areas of cooperation for 2016-2020 were identified, including energy, construction, infrastructure projects, housing, environmental protection as well as support of SME. The parties stressed that in the current economic climate, there is an urgent need for further intensification of business ties between Finland and St. Petersburg, involving new members, including young entrepreneurs. After signing, there was a "Russian-Finnish economic relations Brainstorm: new growth points" with participation of representatives of the Administration of St. Petersburg, ICSER "Leontief Centre" and the FGA for the application of experience and opportunities of Finnish advisers in socio-economic development of St. Petersburg. During the meeting they discussed issues of promising sectors and projects that can become new points of growth and development of the Russian-Finnish economic cooperation in St. Petersburg and the surrounding regions, the development plans of St. Petersburg until 2030, and the opportunities for cooperation with the Nordic countries and Finland, as well as the prospects for Finnish-Russian business relations and entry into the market of the neighboring country.