Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) and Business Finland, organized the Finland-Türkiye Roundtable Meeting in Helsinki on February 26, 2025, with the esteemed participation of the Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, the Minister of Foreign Trade and Development of Finland, Ville Tavio, Deputy Minister of Trade of Türkiye, Mustafa Tuzcu, the Ambassador of Türkiye to Helsinki, Deniz Çakar, the Ambassador of Finland to Ankara, Pirkko Hämäläinen, DEİK President Nail Olpak, DEİK/Türkiye-Finland Business Council Chairperson Evren Dindiren Dönmez, Business Finland COO and Executive Director Risto Vuohelainen, and representatives from the business world.
Minister of Trade of Türkiye, Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, emphasized the importance of diversifying Türkiye's cooperation with the European Union (EU) and its member states, one of Türkiye's most significant trade partners. He stated: "In our meeting, where we evaluated cooperation opportunities between our business communities and in economic, trade, and technological fields, we comprehensively discussed topics such as the Customs Union, green transition, digitalization, defense industry, and entrepreneurship. We firmly believe that updating the Customs Union will significantly contribute to our global cooperation. As Türkiye, we are eager to collaborate with Finland in the fields of contracting and technology, as well as to work together on contracting and infrastructure projects in third countries."
Bolat also noted that the Reinsurance Cooperation Agreement signed between the official export credit agencies of the two countries, Türk Eximbank and Finnvera, would take the economic and trade partnership a step further. "With this agreement, our companies will have access to more financing tools and will find it easier to secure funding for potential projects in third countries. As Türkiye, we fully support strengthening cooperation between our business communities and establishing new partnerships with Finland. In this regard, we believe that the JETCO Protocol we signed and this meeting will be beneficial for our countries. Together with our public and private sector representatives, we will continue to work with all our efforts to enhance trade and investment relations between Türkiye and Finland," he added.
Minister of Foreign Trade and Development of Finland, Ville Tavio, highlighted the importance of sustainability, emphasizing the role of green technologies in a sustainable economy. He also underscored the significance of decarbonization efforts, sustainable infrastructure, and the Horizon Europe program in fostering joint activities.
DEİK President Nail Olpak stated: "Our bilateral trade volume is around $1.8 billion, and we believe it has the potential to increase. However, it is crucial that this growth is not only quantitative but also balanced. Beyond trade, it is important to expand economic and cultural relations into diverse areas, including investments and partnerships. We emphasize the urgent need to modernize the Customs Union, particularly focusing on agriculture, services, and public procurement. In this era where green and digital transformation complement each other, digitalization is a key area where we can enhance cooperation through DEİK's Digital Technologies Business Council. I would also like to highlight the challenges faced by Turkish steel companies due to the EU's quota restrictions. The industrial sectors of both countries are complementary to each other. In addition to construction, energy, and defense, other significant cooperation areas include medical services, information and communication, digital and environmental technologies."
DEİK/Türkiye-Finland Business Council Chairperson, Evren Dindiren Dönmez, stated: "The two countries share a long-standing partnership built on trust, cooperation, and a commitment to shared progress. Over the years, this relationship has evolved into a strong bridge not only in trade and investment but also in innovation, sustainability, and forward-looking solutions. Established in 1991, the DEİK/Türkiye-Finland Business Council plays a vital role in strengthening economic and trade ties, fostering business cooperation, and taking our bilateral relations to new heights. The Business Council serves as a crucial platform for sustainable economic cooperation by facilitating direct interactions among business communities, promoting constructive dialogue, and encouraging knowledge exchange. We have spearheaded numerous initiatives aimed at deepening economic relations between our countries. The synergy between Türkiye and Finland has the potential to develop revolutionary solutions for environmental protection. As we celebrate the 100th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Finland, we look forward to a partnership defined by sustainability and innovation."
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