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U.S. Opens Defense Cooperation Office in Helsinki |
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Finnish industry has welcomed the U.S Department of Defense's decision to open an Office for Defense Cooperation (ODC) here. The office will have a broad role, coordinating defense sales to Finland and promoting cooperation in defense equipment purchases between Finland and the U.S. Department of Defense.
The office will also serve to improve conditions for Finnish defense companies looking to export to the United States, with access to local channels of information and support, said Urpo Rannansuu, a spokesman with Finland's Ministry of Defense (MoD).
Among the office's initial coordination roles will be the Finnish Air Force's F/A-18 Super Hornet upgrade program.
"Finland's defense industry wants to increase sales to the U.S. and this ODC office is an important step in making this happen," said Jorma Wiitakorpi, CEO of Finnish defense group Patria and chairman of the Association of Finnish Defense and Aerospace Industries.
Located within the MoD's headquarters, the ODC will operate under the authority of Barbara Barrett, the U.S. ambassador to Finland. The United States operates similar offices in 34 European countries, among them Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Germany, France and the United Kingdom.
The establishment of ODC-Finland forms part of the defense equipment cooperation between the MoD and the U.S Department of Defense, and follows the signing of a Declaration of Principles between the two countries in 2007.
In 1991, Finland entered into a memorandum of understanding with the United States that covered reciprocity in defense procurements.
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