in content lists or on the content page.Values of India seminar held at the University of Helsinki on Jan. 21st brought together Indian and Finnish experts as well audience interested in Finland-India cooperation to discuss recent developments in Indian society. The Indian society was looked at from the points of view of law and justice, information technology and media.
The speakers in the seminar included Mr. Satyan G. Pitroda, Chairman of the National Knowledge Commission of India, Dr. Arun Shourie, Member of Indian Parliament, Mr. Soli Sorabjee, Former Attorney General of India, Mr. Pekka Hallberg, President, The Supreme Administrative Court and Mr. Lauri Kivinen, Head of Corporate Affairs, Nokia-Siemens Networks. The seminar was chaired by Mr. Mikko Kosonen, Executive Vice President of Sitra.
The seminar was the kick-off of a four-event series titled “The Essence of India”, organised by Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund. The key objective of the events taking place in the spring of 2008 is to broaden the image Finns have of the Indian society. Although the increasing global significance of India is mainly understood, its economy, business, society and culture are still not sufficiently known in Finland or the image of them is often too one-dimensional.
“Values of India seminar presented a broad framework to Indian society and economy. India is already an economic superpower but all its opportunities are not sufficiently known in Finland. About 80 Finnish companies are currently operating in India and this number will increase rapidly in the coming years. We in Finland need more expertise on present-day’s India, both society and economy “, says Mr. Kosonen.
All the upcoming seminars aim to deepen the existing relations between Finland and India and to spark public debate on Finnish-Indian cooperation. The objective is also to explore future opportunities for economic and technological cooperation and core competence areas in Finland and India, and to promote globalisation that is based on best practices and reciprocity.
“The seminar series also provides a great opportunity for the Finnish audience to learn more about India and to engage and network with distinguished Indian experts on society, law, history, journalism, environment, health care, finance and knowledge economy”, says Ramchandra Kulkarni, a special advisor to Sitra’s India Programme.
According to Vesa-Matti Lahti, Director of Sitra’s India Programme, the programme has since 2004 successfully informed Finland about India’s recent developments in economy, business, society and culture. Owing to Sitra’s India Programme and the multi-level activities of Finns operating in India, Finland already has an increasing understanding of India. “There is, however, still a lot to learn and experience before being fully able to discover the essence of India”, Mr. Lahti continues.
Further information
Mr. Vesa-Matti Lahti
Director, India Programme, Sitra
Tel. +358 50 387 3188, firstname.lastname@sitra.fi
Ms. Eeva Lahti
Communications Officer, Sitra
Tel. +358 44 360 4714, firstname.lastname@sitra.fi