Finnish team to explore business opportunities in West Bengal

Kolkata, Dec 14 (UNI) A team of experts from Finland would arrive here early next year to explore the business opportunities of various sectors in West Bengal, Ambassador of Finland in India Asko Numminen said here today.

Interacting with the members of the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Mr Numminen said the business delegation would visit different parts of the state to uncover the trade opportunities in infrastructure, environment, energy and other sectors.

'' West Bengal is an attractive destination for Finnish investment as it offers a combination of cost effective and skilled manpower, a pool of scientists and engineers, abundant natural resources and fairly well developed infrastructure for business, '' Mr Numminen observed.

He informed that the bilateral trade between India and Finland was of Rs 782 million dollars during 2005-06 which had increased to Rs 806 million dollar in the last fiscal.

'' The trade between India and Finland has considerable scope for expansion and there should be exchange of business delegations from both the countries for the cause, '' Mr Numminen maintained.

Referring to the recent developments in utilisation of forest resources in Finland, he said Finland has been ''very active'' in the area of international cooperation to promote sustainable forestry.

In the wake of these developments, Mr Numminen said forest-based industries like pulp, paper and other wood-based industries were flourishing in Finland and the cycle of scientific plantation was replenishing the annual harvest more than adequately.

UNI