Melanie Jolie

Minun tavoitteeni tänne on varmistaa, että meillä on vahva ekonominen yhteistyö näissä kaksi maissa.

As Canada is of course seeking to diversify its economy, the goal is to be closer to the EU and in the context of the EU, two countries that we know we can do more business with and that we can also continue to develop strong partnerships is definitely Sweden and Finland.

It is important to remind ourselves that when Finland and Sweden decided to join NATO at the time, Canada was the first to ratify their accession to NATO. It was based on the fact that it was in our interest to have more Arctic countries part of the alliance, but also we knew that there were strong diplomatic and also diplomatic

economic ties with these two countries. In the context of my visit, I met in Sweden the prime minister. I had breakfast with him this morning. Also with the deputy prime minister and minister of the economy, Ebba Busch, with the minister of defense. And I also met with key business leaders, maybe the CEO of Saab, of AstraZeneca, of ABB and Ericsson.

We already know that there are lots of very important Swedish companies that are doing business across Canada. The other reason why I'm also

in Finland, and I've been in contact with the prime minister of Finland, and I'll be meeting also with the minister of foreign affairs, the minister of defense, and the minister of the economy, is because Davy Shipyard from Lévis, Quebec,

has acquired Helsinki Shipyard. And it is the first time that a Canadian shipyard in recent history has bought a foreign shipyard and will be able not only to benefit from the work that has been done through the national shipbuilding strategy, but also will be able to export

uh key icebreakers across the world and this is done in the context also of the ice pack that was signed between finland canada and the us and we think that we can definitely do more work with

I'll be also meeting the CEOs of Nokia and key business leaders of ABB and Petri. All this in the context of building a stronger economy. We have the vision of having the strongest economy of the G7.

This is the mandate that the prime minister has given me to make sure that that's the case. And we have to do so through economic diplomacy. And that is why coming to Europe, coming to Sweden and Finland was a key priority for me in the context of my mandate as industry minister.

Now to go specifically to your question on F-35s and Saab, etc. There is a study right now that is being done by the Defense Department. It is being led by the Minister of Defense. My job in the context of this decision is to look at options and to understand what could be the different economic benefits.

I've had the chance at the Paris Airshow back in June to meet with Saab for the first time and to meet with Lockheed Martin as well. I wanted to make sure that we could understand what was being proposed.

by Saab, by going to their facility in Sweden, and also having the Secretary of State, Steven Fyhr, with me. And we will be able also to meet with Lockheed Martin and do a similar operation later in the coming weeks. And it is just normal in the context of my mandate to be able to do so. So that's why also I went to Sweden and had conversations with the Swedish government.