EMBASSY OF MALAYSIA IN HELSINKI PROMOTES BRIDGE BETWEEN ASEAN AND FINLAND

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian Embassy in Helsinki, as Chair of the ASEAN Helsinki Committee (AHC) 2024, together with the Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA Stockholm), led a team consisting of Helsinki-based embassy representatives for an insightful two days visit to Kokkola City on the West coast of Finland.

Helsinki-based representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam participated in the visit. 

The embassy stated that Malaysia’s AHC chairmanship aims to promote the establishment of a continuous bridge between ASEAN and Finland, strengthen solidarity and friendship, while also extending potential collaboration with institutions and individuals in this country. It also seeks to explore potential investment and market access with local companies.

According to the embassy, Kokkola was chosen as the destination of choice for the AHC as it is a thriving city known for its industrial and technological strengths.

“It is home to a strong chemical industry, metal refining, and a growing innovation ecosystem,” it said in a statement on Wednesday.

“Kokkola places a significant emphasis on sustainability and industrial collaboration, making it an attractive location for business and research partnerships,” it added. 

The embassy added that the visit to Kokkola was initiated by the Malaysian Embassy in Helsinki with joint-efforts by fellow Malaysians and Area Manager of Vitec Raisoft,  Stella Pon-Onnela, together with  the Secretary of Kokkola City Mayor, Sonja Remell.

The visit is ever timely as Malaysia will chair ASEAN in 2025 and we (the Malaysian Embassy in Helsinki) continue to be at the forefront of ASEAN in line with Malaysia’s Chairmanship theme of “Forging Ahead Together”, it said.

Meanwhile, Chargé d’Affaires of the embassy and chairperson of the AHC 2024, Ariff Ali, highlighted that the visit provided an important platform “for continuous relationship-building and exploring new markets”.

“The visit also focuses on major industries that Finland flourishes in, such as sustainability and clean energy, healthcare innovation and elderly care, maritime and industrial collaboration, education and technology partnerships,” he said.

Helsinki-based representatives have visited seven places, one of them was Centria University of Applied Sciences - a multidisciplinary higher education institution which offers diverse programmes in the fields of engineering, business, and technology, with a strong focus on applied research, innovation, and international collaboration.

They have also visited Raitech Oy (Raisoft), which provides software solutions for healthcare and social services; and Kewatec AluBoat, a company that designs and manufactures high-performance aluminium boats for professional use.

Others include HUR, a manufacturer of advanced exercise and rehabilitation equipment that uses air-resistance technology; Kokkola Industrial Park (KIP), one of the largest industrial parks in Scandinavia;  Hycamite TCD Technologies, a company specialises in hydrogen production using sustainable methods; and Keliber Lithium Project (Sibanye-Stillwater), a major lithium project in Finland.  

-- BERNAMA