President Halonen: Finns interested in Brazilian Energy Solutions

“Finns are very interested in Brazilian solutions regarding bioethanol and fuels”, President of the Republic Tarja Halonen said at a joint press conference after the meeting with President of Brazil Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Presidential Palace on September 10, 2007. President Halonen stressed cooperation in sustainable energies. “Both Brazil and Finland support sustainable development, in which both the environment and people prosper. Various measures have to be used to avert harmful climate change.” President Lula said that he is privileged to be the first Brazilian president to visit Finland. President Lula especially emphasised the development of economic cooperation between the two countries. “During my term in office, the trade between Finland and Brazil has more than doubled. This shows that there is a significant complementary power between our economies”, President Lula noted. He also saw vast opportunities for cooperation in energy, science and technology.

President Lula and President Halonen waving from the balcony of the Presidential Palace. Copyright © Office of the President of the Republic of Finland

According to President Halonen, Finland and Brazil are strong supporters of the United Nations and also the UN reform. “It is good to repeat here Finland’s position that Brazil deserves a permanent seat on the UN Security Council”, President Halonen stated.

“I look forward to Brazilian companies finding Finland”

During the visit, a Finnish-Brazilian Economic Seminar was arranged. The theme of the seminar was increasing Finnish investments in Brazil. Both President Lula and President Halonen hoped that also Brazilian companies would develop an interest in Finland. “We have important Finnish companies that invest in Brazil. I look forward to Brazilian companies finding Finland and getting partnerships with Finnish companies”, President Lula said.

In her speech at the Economic Seminar, President Halonen paid attention to the cooperation between the EU and Brazil and the Southern American Common Market, Mercosur. “The regions need one another. Finland is strongly in favour of achieving the EU-Mercosur Association Agreement and of developing the strategic partnership between the European Union and Brazil”.

A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of Clean Development Mechanism, DCM, with Brazil was also signed in connection with the state visit.

Finland is the first stop in President Lula’s tour in the Nordic countries. From Finland, President Lula will continue to Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

Concluding remarks by President Halonen at the Finnish-Brazilian Economic Seminar

Speech by President Halonen at the state banquet for the President of Brazil

Finland and Brazil signed a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of CDM