OREANDA-NEWS. Mr. Jan Nyberg, Consul General of Sweden in Saint Petersburg, visited Karelia. In the Government of Karelia he had a meeting with Head of Karelia Alexander Khudilainen.

Representatives of Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO), Nordic Investment Bank (NIB), as well as Swedish-Karelian business and information centre also took part in the meeting.

"We are glad that Sweden shows interest in the Republic of Karelia. We're working on improvement of investment climate and we hope for growth of investment activity," - Alexander Khudilainen declared in the beginning of the meeting. Head of Karelia has told that the law On Support of Investment Activity in the Republic of Karelia granting unparalleled privileges to national and foreign investors was recently adopted in the republic.

Cooperation between Karelia and Sweden has a long history. The agreement on cooperation between the republic and Vasterbotten County of Sweden was signed 1994. Within the framework of the protocol on cooperation in force successful work of Swedish-Karelian business and information centre continues. In 2013 it is expected to prepare a new Protocol of Cooperation for the period through 2020.

Growth of activity of Swedish investors in territory of Karelia started in 2006 with implementation of some investment projects, the main of which was development of SwedWood Karelia sawing production in Kostomuksha. Total amount of investments in the project at the moment makes 2,9 billion roubles.

However, only 6 companies in Karelia have Swedish capital. Thus, in the course of the talks Head of the republic has pointed out that currently there are plenty of issues for discussion: "We'd appreciate development of economic cooperation between Sweden and Karelia."

One of such issues could be introduction of progressive Swedish technologies in various spheres of economy. In particular, last year the Government of Karelia has signed several contracts within the investment project providing complex reconstruction of waterworks and sewage treatment works in Petrozavodsk, and focused on providing inhabitants of the capital of the republic with drinking water. Among the project investors there were Nordic Environment Finance Corporation and Nordic Investment Bank which representatives attended the meeting on March, 5.

Jan Nyberg has stated his positive opinion on adoption of the law supporting investment activity. As he said, Sweden is interested in development of cooperation with Karelia in the field of power engineering and housing and communal services. Besides work in Petrozavodsk, the opportunity of attracting Swedish enterprises and investors in regions of the republic is discussed currently within some projects.

Except for negotiations in the Government of Karelia members of the Swedish delegation have taken part in work of the round table discussion on the subject of Sustainable Development and Security of Energy Supply: Swedish Experience and Prospects of Cooperation.