Visit from South West ports of Finland

A delegation of influential Finnish business people flew into Britain on Wednesday (September 26) to visit the Humber ports. The trade mission, organised through partners of World Trade Centre Hull and Humber, is part of Finland’s strategy to develop trade with the region.

The delegates, representing the South Western Ports of Finland trade organisation, visited Goole, Immingham, Grimsby and Hull culminating in a networking event with Humber-based businesses at Humber Quays, the future home of World Trade Centre Hull and Humber.

It is the first visit by the Finnish ports consortium and according to Steve Taylor, interim director for World Trade Centre Hull and Humber, emphasises the strategic importance of the Humber area to Finland and the mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.

Mr Taylor said: “This is a highly relevant mission as we already have an existing trade flow with that part of the world. There is a good history of links between Hull and Finnish ports, leading to some significant local investments.

“This delegation is specifically looking for further opportunities to do business with our region because they are aware of the substantial advantages that the Humber ports offer.”

South Western Ports of Finland is a cooperative body of five ports that handles approximately a quarter of the total foreign trade of the country. It offers diverse port services and frequent weekly sailings, as well as potential for increased traffic.

Mr Taylor said: “Inward trade missions often come only from one city, but this mission brings high-level delegates representing an influential partnership of ports and supporting organisations.”

The 19 delegates include directors and managers from the Finnish port operators, shipping companies and representatives from the public sector and universities.

The initial approach was made in July and Mr Taylor added that the mission was set up in record time.

“This is an excellent example of how the new World Trade Centre Hull and Humber will operate. Through the centre’s network of partners, we can make things happen very quickly. It will be key in securing many other visits of this kind in the future and maximise the benefits for our local economies.”

Theresa Lindsay, head of marketing and business investment at Yorkshire Forward who helped to secure the World Trade Centre Hull & Humber said: “The Humber Ports is one of the largest port complexes in Europe and is an important asset to our economy.

“It is vital that we use it to showcase the investment and trade potential of our region and the proximity of the World Trade Centre to the ports and close geographic links to mainland Europe will help us to do this.”

The relationship of the Humber region with Finland led to international company, Finnforest, building a new facility at Alexandra Dock last year.
Finnforest produces products based on Nordic premium timber and employs more than a total of 4,400 people around Europe.
 
Hull is also the UK’s largest softwood timber-handling port and greatly increased its capacity for handling forestry products with the opening of the Finland Terminal in 2000. The terminal, with more than 70,000 sq m of covered storage, is a major hub for Finnish paper producers.

Councillor Andy Sloan, portfolio holder for the economy at Hull City Council, said:
“We must be outward looking, and it makes a great deal of sense to maximise the existing strong ties with the Baltic region.

“The World Trade Centre will really give us the edge in hosting delegations of this kind and provide us the means to mutually grow business.”

Notes:

The South Western Ports of Finland

• Co-operation body between five ports: Turku, Naantali, Uusikaupunki, Rauma, Pori
• Handle about one fourth of the total foreign trade of Finland
• One of the biggest strengths is the diverse availability of different port services
• The main selling points: over 90 weekly sailings to continental and Scandinavian destinations, fast and un-congested connections to inner Finland and Russia, safe navigation conditions throughout the year, modern transport solutions and value added logistics services, large potential for increasing traffic