Yesterday, on his visit to Helsinki, Victor Yushchenko opened a business forum “Ukraine: New Opportunities for Business and Investment,” organized by the Confederation of Finnish Industries, president's press office reported.
In his speech, the President said Ukraine was a “politically stable state,” which he described as one of “the pillars of successful work in our market.” Yushchenko added that the national economy was growing steadily, with a million of jobs created and other positive rates increasing in the past year. He also expressed hopes Ukraine would be accepted as a new member of the World Trade Organization by the end of 2006.
The Head of State praised Finnish businesspeople for starting many projects in Ukraine. He told those present the import/export rate between Ukraine and Finland had grown by 25% in 2005.
“I believe this is a good example many other Finnish companies can follow,” he said. “My major goal during this visit is to formulate a two-year plan on cooperation with the Finnish government.”
The President said businessmen could invest in Ukraine’s high technologies and building of aircraft, rockets, ships, and machinery.
Yushchenko also welcomed the creation of a Ukrainian-Finnish company Budfarfor-Sanitek in the city of Slavuta.
Then Deputy Secretariat Chief of Staff Oleksandr Chalyy read out a presidential decree to decorate KCI Konecranes Chairman of the Board Stig Gustavson with the Order of Merit for his contribution to the development of Ukrainian-Finnish cooperation.
Today, Victor Yushchenko will also attend a ceremony to sign a memorandum on cooperation between Ukreximbank and Northern Investment Bank.
