Finnish-Chilean cooperation on bioeconomy

The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Finland Timo Soini signed today, on 9 August, a Memorandum of Understanding on bioeconomy and circular economy between Finland and Chile. This will further reinforce forest cooperation and promote trade relations between the two countries.

Primarily the cooperation will be in the form of exchange of knowledge and information on bioeconomy and sustainable use of natural resources. In particular, Chile wishes to promote the utilisation of bio-based energy. At the moment a lot of fuelwood is being used for heating, but this is not included in the national statistics on the use of energy. The use of wood as fuel is inefficient and primitive heating systems are a significant source of pollution.

Representatives of the National Forestry Corporation of Chile (Corporación Nacional Forestal CONAF) visited Finland in 2015 to learn about the efficient and sustainable use of forest biomass in energy production. After the visit, which was considered a success, the Chilean party proposed a Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries. 

In Finland the work on the Memorandum of Understanding was coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, and it was prepared in cooperation with other relevant ministries, bodies under the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and other stakeholders.

Inquiries:
Taina Veltheim, Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, tel. +358 295 162 196
Tellervo Ala-Lehtimäki, Team Leader, the Andean region and Chile, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 351 210