INDIAN EXPORTS
TO FINLAND UP BY 28%
RUDY
MEETS FINALAND TRADE MINISTER
Indian exports
to Finland have registered an increase of 28% in the financial
year 2001-02. In order to enhance the bilateral commercial and
economic relations, 13th meeting of the Indo-Finnish
Joint Commission is taking place in New Delhi on 11th
November, 2002. This was indicated by Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudy,
Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, when he called on
Mr. Jari Vilen, Minister for Foreign Trade of Finland, here today.
Shri S.N. Menon, Additional Secretary, Department of Commerce,
was present in the meeting along with senior officials of Ministry
of External Affairs and Department of Industrial Policy &
Promotion.
Shri Rudy apprised
the visiting Minister about the economic reforms India has initiated
over the last decade and expressed the need to enhance the current
level of bilateral trade which was about US $ 250 million. He
indicated that India was willing to have joint ventures with Finland
in the area of Drugs & Pharmaceucticals, Information Technology,
Food Processing, Marine Products, Marble & Tiles and Cut &
Polished Diamonds. Shri Rudy informed that India was actively
participating in all the elements of the Doha Work Programme and
said that it was important that a due attention be paid by WTO
members to the development-focus of the Doha mandate.
The visiting
Minister said that his country view India as an enormous hub for
regional activities for Finland companies. He informed that Finland
had best expertise in sectors of Energy, Environment Protection,
Information & Communication Technology and Health Care. Finland
has 25 to 30% global market share of mobile phones, 75% in meteorological
equipments and 25% in metal detectors. Regarding WTO, he said
that Finland shared India’s concerns and commitment towards Doha
negotiations. He also indicated that Finland had excellent opportunities
for film industry and invited Indian film industry to take advantage
of the same. During the meeting, he pointed out that the frequency
of direct flights between the two countries be raised, as there
were very few direct flights available. The Indian Minister assured
him that he would take up this issue with the Ministry concerned.
The major items
of Indian exports are RGM cotton accessories, machineries, leather,
electronic goods, pharmaceuticals etc. The major items of Indian
imports include electronic goods, machineries, newsprint, computer
software etc. The 12th meeting of the Joint Commission
was held in Helsinki in June 2000.
