OREANDA-NEWS. On February, 22 in the Government of Karelia Head of the Republic Alexander Khudilainen has held negotiations with the Finnish delegation led by Markku Kakriainen, Managing Director of South Savo Chamber of Commerce and President of the Regional Union.

The delegation included representatives of companies working in the sphere of energy, transport, timber industry, etc. in this region of Finland, as well as chambers of commerce and industry. Visit of the delegation to Karelia became a return of the visit of Head of Karelia to Eastern Finland last year.

At the meeting Alexander Khudilainen has told that the republic performs all of its obligations concerning stirring up the cooperation with Finland. This process has already been rated high by President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Prime Minister of the Russian Federation Dmitry Medvedev.

One of the important issues of cooperation advanced by Karelia is development of international customs stations at the Russian-Finnish border. In particular, granting the international status to Syvaoro-Parikkala border-crossing point in Lahdenpohja region. Alexander Khudilainen has told members of the delegation that a competition for construction of the road leading to the customs station was announced in Karelia. Three Finnish companies have submitted their applications for participation. According to Head of the Republic, Karelia may become one of the first regions in Russia that will involve international contractors and modern technologies in implementation of its projects in the sphere of infrastructure.

The important statement was made at the meeting concerning another project of development of transport communication between Karelia and Finland. Head of the Republic has informed that the next passenger train to Joensuu departures on March, 7. The homeward voyage is scheduled for March, 8.

"I'm sure that since 2014 Karelia will be able to become of the pilot regions on establishing both domestic, and international air service," – Alexander Khudilainen added. This issue was discussed at the recent meeting of Maxim Sokolov, Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, with Head of Karelia.

The republic is interested in mobilization of investments. The powerful incentive to this will be the law On Support of Investment Activity in the Republic of Karelia developed by the Government and adopted by the Legislative Assembly on February, 21. During the talks Alexander Khudilainen explained the key features of the new law granting Russian and international investors a number of essential benefits.

Markku Kakriainen in his reciprocal statement has mentioned that Eastern Finland follows development of cooperation between the European Union and Russia with hope and with interest. "Russia and Finland support long-standing traditions of cooperation, and now we have also got a lot of opportunities. There are many spheres where we have not launched any cooperation yet, therefore, we're looking for new loading points," – he said.

According to the head of the delegation, development of Syvaoro-Parikkala border-crossing point in Eastern Finland is of special interest. "On our part we'll do our best there in Finland to solve this issue," – Markku Kakriainen said.

During the talks the parties have discussed prospects and the course of implementation of joint projects launched after the last year's visit of Head of Karelia to the town of Mikkeli, administrative center of South Savo.

Besides the meeting in the Government of Karelia members of the delegation have held talks in the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Physical Training, Sports and Tourism, Ministry of Nature Management and Ecology, Ministry of Economic Development, and Chamber of Commerce and Industry.