OREANDA-NEWS. November 05, 2009. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis held a meeting with Jyrki Katainen, Minister for Finance of Finland, reported the Official website mk.gov.lv.

V.Dombrovskis informed on the progress in preparation of the 2010 budget. The Minister for Finance of Finland expressed his understanding of the situation in Latvia and pointed out that he closely follows the developments. Finland expresses its support to the efforts of the Latvian Government in budget consolidation in line with the agreement with international lenders.

J. Katainen informed that Finland had to make similar budget consolidation during the crisis of the 90s when the government implemented the most extensive budget-reduction measures since the post-war period. At that time, the Finnish government reached general stability in the country by reducing spending and raising taxes.

Finland expresses full support to international aid to Latvia. Within three years, Latvia expects the loan from international donors in the amount of EUR 7.5 bill (LVL 5.27 bill) and within the framework of assistance of the Nordic countries (Finland, Sweden, Estonia, Denmark, Norway) EUR 324 mill is the Finnish funding.

During the visit, the Minister for Finance of Finland will meet the Minister for Finance of Latvia Einars Repse, the President of the Bank of Latvia, Ilmars Rimsevics, the representative of the IMF’s mission to Latvia, David Moor.

Jyrki Katainen became a Minister for Finance of Finland on April 19, 2007. Jyrki Katainen was elected in the Parliament of Finland as a representative of the Finnish National Coalition Party in 1999.

On October 8, V.Dombrovskis paid a working visit to the Republic of Finland. Within the framework of the visit, the Prime Minister met the top officials of the state, got acquainted with the Finnish Innovations Fund (SITRA), and met Finnish representatives of the high-level working group.