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Finland needs more bold decisions to achieve economic growth: PM

Xinhua, January 1, 2016 Adjust font size:

Finnish Prime Minister Juha Sipila said on Thursday that Finland needs more bold decisions to restore competitiveness and achieve economic growth.

In his New Year address, Sipila said the Finnish economy has experienced a seven-year decline.

Finland is facing many challenges, including the aging population, the inflexible labor market, increasing unemployment rate, escalating government debt and others, said Sipila.

"Our ability to renew ourselves cannot be praised", said the prime minister. "For years now, we have been unable to make the necessary decisions and reforms."

Sipila emphasized that Finland needs more bold decisions in structural reforms, including additional spending cuts and tax hikes to restore the competitiveness and economic growth.

Sipila said that the Paris climate agreement, for example, will create entirely new opportunities for Finnish clean technology sectors. Enditem