On May 16, 2005, Ms. E.V. Danilova, Director of the Department for Foreign Economic Relations, participated in the session of the Finnish national fund of SITRA, which was held in Moscow with participation of the leading representatives of Finnish and Russian business community, and delivered a speech on Russian Economic Development Prospects and Pre-Requisites for Development of Russo-Finnish Economic Relations.

 During the session held with the participation of the Finnish Ambassador to Russia, H. Helenius,  the parties spoke on the key issues of Russo-Finnish trade and economic relations between  Russia and the European Union.

The urgency of developing trade and economic relations at the level of small and medium businesses and of Russia?s and Finland?s regions was emphasized.

Participants in the session expressed an agreed upon opinion that similar workshops are useful for discussion of arising issues and obtaining of topical information  in the dialogue between representatives of governmental institutions and the business community.