Readout: Minister Ng speaks with Finland’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade 

Yesterday, the Honourable Mary Ng, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, spoke with Ville Skinnari, Finland’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade. 

Ministers Ng and Skinnari discussed how innovation will benefit businesses, workers, and people in both Canada and Finland as the 2 countries work to build a sustainable economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic—particularly in the areas of clean tech and digital transformation.

They discussed how the pandemic has made open, rules-based international trade more crucial than ever, particularly the need to strengthen and secure global supply chains, 1 of 6 areas addressed in the Ottawa Group’s Action Plan on COVID-19.

Citing increased trade between Canada and Finland since the launch of the Canada-EU Comprehensive Trade Agreement (CETA), the ministers recognized CETA as critical to creating new opportunities for Canadians and Finns alike.

Ministers Ng and Skinnari agreed to continue working together to enhance Canada and Finland’s strong and stable trading relationship and to grow their economies in a way that is inclusive and sustainable for everyone.