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PLEASE NOTE: This event will be taking place at 4:00PM Pacific Standard Time (PST)
In this session, Mikko Hautala, Finland’s Ambassador to the United States will discuss his recent visits to Washington state and why the state has taken on an important role in the business-growth strategies of the northern European nation.
Ambassador Hautala was part of a delegation that visited the Ports of Tacoma and Seattle in November of 2021. During that visit, a Memorandum of Understanding signed by Finnish Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka and Washington Lt. Gov. Denny Heck called for increased collaboration regarding 5G infrastructure and industrial applications to improve performance and sustainable growth, including in ports. Business and government leaders from Finland and the Port of Tacoma are studying the creation of a 5G wireless edge computing network for the Tacoma Tideflats area to improve global competitiveness by improving cargo flow through better tracking. Finland is home to the Nokia Corporation, a multinational telecommunications company, that rolled out 5G technology there. Ambassador Hautala also visited Washington state in September of last year.
This virtual session will be moderated by Port of Tacoma Commissioner Deanna Keller, who also serves on the board of the World Affairs Council of Tacoma. In addition to the above-mentioned economic and technology topics, Commissioner Keller will ask questions related to Ambassador Hautala’s earlier assignment as Finland’s Ambassador to Russia and his views about current relations between Russia and the United States. She also hopes to touch on Finland’s unique perspective on relations between Europe, Russia, the United States and China.
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