Vince Cable, UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, visits Finland
Dr Cable’s visit was aimed at strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the UK and Finland, and ways to boost growth and competitiveness across the EU. During his two day visit, Dr Cable met his counterpart, Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr Jan Vapaavuori, senior officials, industry representatives and members of the Parliamentary Grand and Commerce Committees.
Dr Cable’s visit was aimed at strengthening the trade and investment partnership between the UK and Finland, and ways to boost growth and competitiveness across the EU. During his two day visit, Dr Cable met his counterpart, Minister of Economic Affairs, Mr Jan Vapaavuori, senior officials, industry representatives and members of the Parliamentary Grand and Commerce Committees.
The Secretary of State visited Finnish paper and energy giant UPM, and Nokia, both of which have substantial investments in the UK. Dr Vince Cable gave a speech on the importance of the proposed EU/US Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) in a seminar arranged jointly by the British and US Embassies in Helsinki and the European Commission Representation. Dr Cable also got to hear directly from businesses with UK links at a business breakfast hosted by the Finnish-British Trade Association.
Showcasing British investment in Finland, Dr Cable opened a new TelecityGroup data centre in Vantaa just to the north of Helsinki. TelecityGroup, which has its headquarters in London, is an example of British companies successfully growing their businesses in the Nordic market. Dr Cable commented that “It is a pleasure to visit the latest TelecityGroup data centre here in Helsinki. It is exciting to see British businesses expanding overseas, and providing the means for Europe’s digital economy to flourish. Britain is at the technological vanguard of the data centre industry and TelecityGroup is a flag carrier for that around Europe.”