Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck Welcomes Delegation from Finland for Signing of Transportation MOU

Seattle – Lt. Governor Denny Heck welcomed to Washington a delegation from Finland that included Minister of Transport and Communications Timo Harakka, Ambassador of the Republic of Finland to the United States Mikko Hautala, and other Finnish business leaders. The 5-person delegation came to visit the Port of Seattle and the Port of Tacoma, converse about future collaborations regarding 5G connections, and other material collaborations between Washington state and Finland.

Joined by legislators, state officials, community leaders, and business professionals, Lt Governor Heck signed a memorandum of understanding on behalf of the state that solidified the continued commitment to collaboration between Washington state and Finland, focusing on integrating smart port technologies to improve performance and sustainable growth.

“I’m honored to welcome our friends from Finland to Washington state. Washington and Finland share growing economic ties, a rich cultural heritage, and a commitment to the values of free, open, democratic societies. Deepening the long-standing relationship between Finns and Washingtonians better prepares both our peoples for the task of overcoming the global challenges of the 21st century we will face together,” Lt Governor Heck said.

From similar economic focuses to being hubs of innovation for the larger regions, Washington state and Finland have numerous ecological ties that make a partnership between the nation and state substantial and viable. Both communities are focused on spearheading clean energy while enriching economic growth through sustainable innovation. Both Washington state and Finland have some of the largest maritime industries in their individual regions, and both of their economies have experienced significant growth in recent decades due to technology startups.

Finnish Minister of Transportation and Communication Timo Harakka said” Washington and Finland may be over 10,000 nautical miles apart, but we are extremely close in our pursuit of staying competitive in global trade while meeting ambitious climate goals. If we join our expertise in new technologies and innovations, we can go farther that we would alone. I look forward to a very fruitful partnership.”

The future of the partnership between Washington and Finland is being met with great optimism on both sides of the Atlantic. Local partners from both Finland and Washington state are undertaking a feasibility study on building 5G edge computing network for the Tacoma area and creating a smart port for the state.

Lt. Governor Heck welcomed the delegation in completion of his duties as Acting Governor while Governor Inslee is representing Washington at the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference.

Lieutenant Governor Heck is the 17th Lt. Governor of Washington state. As Lieutenant Governor, he is the presiding officer for the Washington State Senate and serves as Acting Governor whenever Governor Inslee is out of the state. In addition to these constitutional duties, the Lieutenant Governor is designated other duties by state law like serving as the chair for the Legislative Committee on Economic Development and International Relations, and, in 2021 Lt. Governor Heck was appointed to serve on the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors.

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