On September 5, 2024, a roundtable was held at EastCham Finland’s headquarters in Helsinki, featuring leading Finnish companies such as Finnish Water Forum, Watermaster, Wärtsilä, Agronic Oy, Reorbit, and the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
The Turkmen delegation was led by Myakhri Byashimova, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan, while the Finnish side was represented by Jaana Rekolainen, Director General of EastCham Finland.
During the meeting, the Turkmen delegation highlighted the successful cooperation with Finnish companies and proposed expanding collaboration in areas including energy, logistics, transportation and communications, agriculture and water management, industry, innovative technologies, renewable energy, healthcare and the medical industry, smart cities, meteorology, and education.
The Turkmen delegation also invited Finnish businesses to actively participate in exhibitions and fairs held in Turkmenistan across various sectors.
Regarding mechanisms for economic cooperation, the Turkmen delegation suggested establishing cooperation between the chambers of commerce of the two countries, organizing mutual business delegation visits, and considering the creation of a Turkmen-Finnish Business Council.
The Finnish side expressed its interest in collaborating with Turkmenistan.
On September 6, political consultations between Turkmen and Finnish officials took place at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the beginning of the meeting, the Turkmen delegation met with Outi Holopainen, Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign Policy and Security Policy at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Both sides expressed their mutual interest in developing beneficial cooperation in all areas of common interest.
During inter-ministerial consultations with Jari Sinkari, Director General of the Asia and Oceania Department at the Finnish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a broad range of issues was discussed, including collaboration within international organizations such as the UN, OSCE, and EU, enhancing trade and economic cooperation, and establishing contacts in culture and education.
In the context of inter-ministerial cooperation, the parties agreed to prepare a legal framework for regular consultations between the foreign ministries of the two countries.
On the same day, separate meetings were held with Ville Skinnari, head of the Turkmenistan Friendship Group in the Finnish Parliament (Eduskunta) and its members, as well as Ville Kaunisto, head of the Finnish delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and its members.
During discussions with the Friendship Group, the parties explored opportunities for establishing inter-parliamentary dialogue, organizing mutual visits, and exchanging legislative experiences.
In a meeting with the Finnish delegation to the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, the Finnish side briefed the Turkmen delegation on the key aspects of its OSCE chairmanship in 2025. Both sides agreed on the need to enhance contacts between parliamentarians within the organization.
The visit also included a brief meeting with Ville Tavio, Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan
