Finnish Minister for International Development Heidi Hautala on January 26 met with Vice Chairman of Da Nang city People’s Committee Phung Tan Viet.

The minister said Finnish companies have potential to coordinate with Da Nang to increase innovation, reduce poverty and commence business operations in the city and surrounding region.

She also hoped that businesses from her country will seek opportunities to cooperate with Vietnam.

The host welcomed the visit and said he believed it would bridge Finnish companies with his city.

He also briefed the Finnish minister and her accompanying business delegation on the cooperation between his city and Salo city in Finland, in particular the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the two cities in 2011 and a joint project in Da Nang.

During its stay in the city, the Finnish delegation visited a project, sponsored by the Finnish Non-governmental organisation Fida International Ry, to help people with disabilities in the city.-VNA