Minister hails Finnish help in energy, health sectors

LAHORE : The Finland-Pakistan Business Summit (FPBS), a flagship platform linking Finnish and Pakistani businesses since 2012, inaugurated its 13th edition in Islamabad on Monday, followed by sessions in Lahore on Tuesday.

Over the past decade, the summit has been instrumental in fostering partnerships across sectors, and under the dynamic leadership of Wille Eerola, Chairman of the Finland Pakistan Business Council and Consul General of Pakistan in Finland, the initiative has flourished. His relentless efforts have not only promoted bilateral ties but have also led to the signing of multiple Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between different institutions based in Finland & Pakistan. Some of Pakistan’s most prominent business leaders and distinguished educationists attended this one-of-a-kind event, representing sectors, including energy and education.

A large number of participants gathered for the summit, which featured expert panel discussions, individual talks, and keynote speeches. Key discussion topics included: “Energy Technologies, Production and Consumption – Where Are We Now and Where Should We Go?”, “Energy and the Future of Pakistan”, “Education and the Future – From Best Teachers to Best Skills and Beyond”, and “The Role of the Best Teachers in Achieving Success.” Wille Eerola, Chairman of the Finland Pakistan Business Council and Honorary Consul General of Pakistan in Finland, formally opened the summit by welcoming all panelists and distinguished guests. He emphasised the significance of the summit and appreciated the organisers for orchestrating such a large-scale and impactful event.

The chief guest, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, officially inaugurated the conference. In his address, he underscored the importance of interactive and engaging sessions like this and acknowledged Finland’s ongoing support for Pakistan in sectors such as education, information technology, energy, and health. Hannu Ripatti, Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan, delivered the keynote address, welcoming guests and sharing remarks on the successful organisation of the event despite challenges. He expressed his gratitude to the attendees and panelists.

The summit featured a series of panel discussions focused on the energy and education sectors. The first panel, "Energy Talks," revolved around the theme “Energy Technologies, Production and Consumption – Where Are We Now and Where Should We Go?”

Opening remarks on “Energy and the Future of Pakistan” were delivered by Alexandre Eykerman, Energy Business Director Middle East & Managing Director at Wartsila Gulf FZE. A major highlight of the summit was the "EDU Talks" panel discussion, moderated by Ms Laura-Maria Sinisalo, Head of Professional Development at Finnish Global Education. The session focused on “Education and the Future – From Best Teachers to Best Skills and Beyond.” The discussion began by highlighting the importance of education, the crucial role Finland’s education system can play globally, and its distinctive features.

This panel included Pakistan’s celebrated educationist Syed Azhar Husnain Abidi (Tamgha-e-Imtiaz), CEO and Founder of Falcon Education and Consultancy Services Mika Alhonkoski and Dr Nishat Riaz, Chief Executive of the Malala Fund Pakistan.

The summit is set to conclude in Karachi on Wednesday (today), ensuring broad national participation and outreach.