H.E. Mr Kääriäinen (right) in discussions with President Rene at State House Tuesday

The newly accredited Finnish ambassador to Seychelles has said that he would seek to use his accreditation to strengthen and improve relations between Finland and Seychelles.

"Our relations have been very good, we are both small countries and it is important for small countries to cooperate and work together," His Excellency Mr Matti Kääriäinen said.

The new ambassador was speaking to journalists shortly after presenting his credentials to President France Albert Rene and holding discussions with Vice-President James Michel at State House yesterday.

Highlighting areas of recent cooperation Ambassador Kääriäinen said that Finnish companies had supplied Seychelles' diesel powered electricity generators and that Finland imports roughly 1.5 million Euros worth of tuna from Seychelles every year.

The new ambassador said that at present around 500 Finnish tourists journey to Seychelles annually, a similar number to those who visit Kenya, and that he would work to increase this figure.

Referring to his meetings with President Rene and VP Michel, Ambassador Kääriäinen said that discussions with the two leaders had been wide ranging and had focused on the future of Seychelles.

"We talked about the future of the country, especially macro economic issues in these times of globalisation. I cannot say anything specific beyond that, but they seem to be confident about the future," said Ambassador Kääriäinen.

The fifth Finnish Ambassador accredited to Seychelles, Mr Kääriäinen is based in Kenya, from where he is accredited to a number of East African countries and Nairobi-based UN organisations.

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