Finnish High Tech in European Security and Defence

Seminar invitation

Dear member of the media,

20.9.2006 --[ASDWire.com]-- The Association of Finnish Defence- and Aerospace Industries (AFDA) organises in connection with the meeting of the EU Defence Ministers a seminar on the future prospects of the defence industries at Levi. The seminar takes place on Monday 2, October 2006 at 11.30–13.00. We warmly welcome you to this event. The seminar is very well suited for article and/or special reporters as well as for editorial journalists.

An increasing co-operation within the EU on security- and defence issues (ESDP) as well as the gradual opening of the EU’s defence material markets set new challenges for the industries operating in this field of trade in Finland. At the same time the importance of high technology to the defence- and aviation industries is continuously growing. This makes new demands but also presents opportunities for the companies.

The seminar has a high quality list of speakers. Mr. Eero Lavonen, Chairman of National Armaments Directors and a representative of the top management of the European Defence Agency (EDA) will talk of the prospects of European defence co-operation and its requirements for the industries. The Chief Engineer of the Finnish Defence Staff, Mr. Jukka Juusti, will discuss the demands set by the recurrent technology and the opening speech shall be made by the chairman of the AFDA, the Chief Executive Officer of Patria, Mr. Jorma Wiitakorpi. You will find the programme of the seminar on the next page. The language of the seminar is English.

After the seminar the participants have a possibility to familiarise themselves with an exhibition on the utilisation of the Finnish know-how in equipping the EU rapid action Battle Groups. EU Ministers of Defence shall visit this exhibition later in the afternoon.

We wish that the participation of you/your editorial representative would be registered by 22.9.2006 with Anne Suntio at The Association of Defence- and Aerospace Industries, tel. +358 9 192 3362, anne.suntio@techind.fi. You will find information on the convenient transport- and accommodation possibilities on the next page.

Due to the security arrangements of the EU Presidency the reporters participating to the seminar are to accredit to the meeting of the Defence Ministers at the web-page of the Presidency Secretariat (www.eu2006.fi ) by 22.9.2006.

Further information on the seminar may be enquired from Henrik Nordell, Tel. +358 9 192 3362, henrik.nordell@techind.fi  

The Association of Defence- and Aerospace Industries (AFDA) is a member association of Technology Industries. Around 70 member companies of AFDA widely represent the defence-, aviation- and space technology companies in Finland.


”Finnish High Tech in European Defence and Security”

Time Monday 2.10.2006, klo 11.30

Place Hullu Poro Areena, Kittilä

11.30 – 13.00 Programme

• Opening of the seminar
  Mr. Jorma Wiitakorpi, Chairman of AFDA, CEO Patria Oyj
• Video presentation
• European Defence Agency
  Mr. Eero Lavonen, Chairman of National Armaments Directors
  Representative of the top management of EDA
• New Technologies – new challanges
  Mr. Jukka Juusti, Chief Engineer, Finnish Defence Staff
• Discussions
• Transfer to the demonstrations
• Lunch
• AFDA organises a buffet dinner in the restaurant Sirkantähti at 20.00-23.00. We warmly welcome all the seminar participants to the dinner.
  

Information on accommodation- and flight possibilities
The Defence- and Aerospace Industries (AFDA) has reserved rooms for the seminar participants (for the night between 2.10–3.10) in Hotel Sirkantähti which is located in close proximity to the site of the meeting.

Arrival at Levi:
There is a flight from Helsinki to Rovaniemi (AY421) on Monday morning at 07.35–08.55. PIA organises transportation from the airport to the site of the seminar, Levi. We wish you would sign up for it when registering your participation.

Possible return flights are for example the following:

Monday:
 2.10 at 20.10–21.35 Kittilä-Helsinki AY 559

Tuesday
3.10 at 13.45-15.10 Kittilä-Helsinki AY4444
3.10 at 20.10-21.35 Kittilä-Helsinki AY 559