1.9.2011

Cooperation between Brazil's Pernambuco region and the southwestern coast of Finland confirmed

The agreement opens up new opportunities for the southwest’s maritime industry

Brazil’s Pernambuco region’ Science and Technology Ministry and the south-western Finnish coastal cities of Turku, Uusikaupunki, Rauma and Pori signed a cooperation agreement last Wednesday. The agreement supports cooperation, between the regions’ companies, the academic community, and educational institutions. At the same time both Turku’s and Satakunta’s University of Applied Sciences and the Federal University of Pernambuco and signed an agreement for student and teacher exchanges, and technical and scientific cooperation.

According to Pori’s Mayor, Aino-Maija Luukkosen, Satakunta has a strong base for cooperation with Brazil.

- We have imported enriched nickel from Brazil for years, so a trade link already exists. And, for example, there is certainly a lot of potential of educational exchange.

- Rauma has a number of maritime industry companies and, in particular, we expect them to benefit from the cooperation agreement, said the Mayor of Rauma, Arno Miettinen.

- Maritime industry companies are looking for new business opportunities and Brazil’s large markets are of course interesting.

Professor Armando Shinohara of the Federal University of Pernambuco believes in the success of the educational exchange.

- First, we have to initiate a student exchange programme and then we can introduce a teacher exchange programme. Once those have got going we can turn to instigating scientific co-operation, says Professor Shinohara describing outlining educational institutions’ plans.

A Brazilian marine industry delegation will have a week-long visit to Finland. The members of the delegation are representatives from shipyards, state and regional administration as well as universities. During the visit, the delegation will meet with their Finnish counterparts. The visit is an important new opening for the Finnish shipbuilding and maritime industries struggling to cope with structural change, and its aim is to help Finnish companies enter the Brazilian market.