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The Finnish companies are expected next week in Zambia for business engagements and to explore investment opportunities.
According to Finland Ambassador to Zambia Saana Halinen, that the Finnish companies are expected in the country for business networking and engagement.
Halinen said on Tuesday in Lusaka that the Finland Business week was scheduled to take place on February 23 and February 24, 2023.
She said the annual gathering was aimed at improving Finland-Zambia business and trade relations and enhance private sector cooperation between the two nations.
Halinen indicated that the Finland Business week would focus on opportunities in circular Economy, renewable energy, green transition and education solutions related to these areas.
The purpose of the event was to bring together the Finnish and Zambian private sector representatives to promote business opportunities, share information and create partnerships.
“This year, the event will have 10 Finnish companies visiting Zambia from forestry, circular economy, infrastructure, agriculture, education and renewable energy sectors.
“Another 10 Finnish companies would also be represented at the event by Finnpartnership,” Halinen said.
She said the in previous year, Finland Business week had proved to be an effective way of making connections, finding partners and promoting business opportunities.
Halinen said the programme for the companies would include business-to-business and business- to-government meetings facilitated by a local consultant and the embassy.
She said the event offers a great opportunity for information sharing on the current and more relevant Business opportunities for Finland-Zambia cooperation.
Among this would be Finnpartnership, a business partnership instrument funded by the Ministry of Foriegn Affairs of Finland, will also have a presentation and discussion on how to do business with Finland.
Halinen explained that during the Finland Business week a Circular Economy Market study would be launched.
She said this would provide key information on the current circularity opportunities and trends in Zambia is expected to be released in Lusaka next week.
The study has been produced by the Accelerated Growth for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Zambia (AGS programme).
Speaking at the same event, AGS Chief Technical Advisor Gaveth Evans said they had provided business readiness training to over 400 enterprises including intensive acceleration service to 120 businesses.
Evans said AGS had also provided productive assets to 50 SMEs worth around 1.5 million Euros to help them growth their businesses.
He said to date the programme has created over 400 jobs and increased revenues for participating businesses by more than 230 percent.
“One of the reasons why the programme has been so successful is due to our support to businesses beyond just training and beyond getting them ready for investment,” Evans said.
He said they have also facilitated for the trade mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) with the Zambia Development Agency, creating contracts of around US$30 million.
“We shall be conducting the trade mission to Malawi in the coming weeks. We are excited to see development of trade across the border with Malawi,” Evans said.
On circular economy, he said circular economy investment was crucial, saying that in the last few weeks have seen the effect of climate change , with rains coming late in Zambia and getting heavier.
Evans said it was important to invest in circular economy to try and mitigate against the effects of climate change.
He stated that Finland was a world leader in circular economy and the close relationship between Finland -Zambia in SME development offered great opportunities for Zambia entrepreneurs to invest and bring in opportunities in the country.
And AGS Business Partnership Expert Anna Erkkila said the programme was aimed to strengthen business partnership between Zambia and Finland.
Erkkila said the main purpose of the Finland Business week was to bring together Finland and Zambia private sector to promote business opportunities, network and create partnerships.
She said the Finland Business week had proved to be an effective way of making connections.
AGS programme is funded by the government of Finland and implemented in cooperation with the Ministry of SME Development of Zambia.
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