Viet Nam treasures relations with Finland: Prime Minister

The Government chief made the above statement while hosting a reception for Arto Olavi Satonen, Minister for Employment from the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, in Ha Noi on January 13.

Pham welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on labor cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment.

He suggested both sides mull over the establishment of new mechanisms to bolster collaboration in science and technology, innovation, and vocational education, while expanding cooperation in new and promising fields such as green transition, digital transformation, renewable energy, green economy, circular economy, technology transfer, and digital infrastructure.

Pham also suggested Finland continue to provide more scholarships for Viet Nam, urging the two ministries to effectively realize the newly-signed MoU, and connect their businesses to soon send more Vietnamese workers to Finland.

The two nations should increase high-level exchanges to enhance political trust, step up trade and investment promotion activities, and take full advantages of the EU-Viet Nam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and EU-Viet Nam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) to further lift trade and investment cooperation, noted Pham.

Minister Satonen, for his part, asserted that Viet Nam is an important partner of Finland in the region, adding that Finland wishes to further deepen collaboration with Viet Nam, especially in education, labor, and cultural exchange.

The same day, Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs Dao Ngoc Dung and Satonen signed a MoU on labor migration cooperation.

The five-year MOU establishes a partnership on labor migration within the respective jurisdictions of both parties, adhering to their current laws, procedures, and resources, while respecting international norms and standards.

Sustainable and mutually beneficial cooperation serves as the cornerstone to promote the transparent, ethical, and sustainable deployment of experts, skilled workers, and seasonal laborers from Viet Nam to Finland, preventing exploitation and abuse and ensuring compliance with the legal frameworks of both nations.

Since late 2023, the MOLISA has approved applications from three Vietnamese service enterprises to supply 134 workers (including 65 women) to the European nation.

So far, 55 of them have begun employment in Finland, earning a stable monthly income of €1,500-2,000 with favorable working conditions and social benefits./.