60 years of collaboration between Finland and Alger

The Ambassador of Algeria H.E. Mr Djamel Moktefi visited Vaasa on 8-9th of May for the first time since he assumed office in December 2021. The Ambassador had the chance to visit several prestigious companies such as Wärtsilä, ABB, Mirka, as well as a visit to the University of Vaasa and Technobothnia.                                           

The Ambassador had several meetings with representatives from the university and companies in the Vaasa region. During the first day, the Ambassador visited Wärtsilä Sustainable Technology Hub, where he learned about Wärtsilä’s global business and got to see their brand new facilities. After that the University of Vaasa representatives together with Vice-Rector Jyrki Vuorinen, presented their strategy and internationalization goals. The Ambassador showed his interests in promoting collaboration between universities in Algeria and Vaasa. The day end with an interesting visit to the Technobothnia laboratories, an innovative platform on campus in Vaasa for performing ie energy technology studies and testing new ideas.

On the second day, The Mayor of Vaasa, Tomas Häyry together with Communication and Brand Manager Kristoffer Jansson (VASEK) welcomed the Ambassador to Vaasa. During the meeting, the Ambassador eagerly tried to grasp the successful receipe Vaasa has with the public sector working in close cooperation with the business world and the universities in order to co-create added value and bringing forward new ideas and extensive projects. The ambassador wishes to connect companies in Vaasa with companies in Algeria.

The Ambassador also visited Mirka’s Vaasa office. Business Excellence Manager, Mia Högkvist introduced him to the company’s background as a family-owned company and showed several types of abrasives, which Mirka sells, as well as highlighting the impressive Mirka academy and the sustainability efforts within the Shape Ecosystem projec                                           

The last visit was to ABB Oy, where Managing Director Pekka Tiitinen presented the company businesses in Finland, and Globally.  Mr. Tiitinen also explained that ABB is established in Algeria in a few locations around capital city Algiers and further in western Algeria. In Algeria ABB employs some tens of people to work closely with the Algerian customers.

During the visit in Vaasa, the Ambassador showed his intention to bridge possible cooperation between Vaasa and Algeria. He also offered his assistance to Finnish companies to do business in Algeria.   

Algerian Ambassador with the Mayor of Vaasa, Tomas Häyry