President Valdas Adamkus began his state visit to the Republic of Finland by delivering a welcome speech at a business forum in Helsinki.
 
President Adamkus said that although there were many excellent examples of bilateral business ties in banking, technologies, environmental protection, and other areas, the development of economic cooperation between Lithuania and Finland could be even more intense.

In his opinion, Finland and Lithuania belonged to the Baltic Sea region – one of the fastest growing regions in Europe in the past decade and among the most promising regions in the world.

“Both countries are interested in advancing the integration of energy and transport infrastructures of the Nordic and Baltic countries, which would allow connecting the two still separated infrastructural areas together,” Mr. Adamkus said.

President Adamkus pointed out that the Government of Lithuania was planning to make a special focus on the development of research and innovations. Therefore, he underlined, Lithuania was greatly interested in cooperating with Finland in the field of information and communication technologies, namely in establishing Knowledge and Innovation Communities.

Valdas Adamkus noted that has the current economic slowdown, which had already started to affect both the Baltic States and the Nordic countries, was a time to restructure, adjust and accelerate actions and initiatives. “However, national tools may be insufficiently effective; therefore, solidarity among the EU member states, a stronger EU single market and mutual assistance are of crucial importance,” Mr. Adamkus said.

He also underscored the significance of energy links. “I am deeply convinced that when the Baltic Energy Market Interconnection Plan, proposed by the European Commission, is implemented and all infrastructural and administrative restrictions for the operation of our common electricity market are lifted, we will make a major step towards creating the best conditions for free consumer choice and energy security,” Mr. Adamkus said.

He expressed hope that in the future investors from Finland and other Nordic countries would view Lithuania and the other Baltic States as the best natural markets for their investment, while Lithuanian companies would sell more of their production in Finland and Scandinavia.