RAMALLAH, February 2, 2011 (WAFA) - Prime Minister Salam Fayyad signed an agreement Tuesday with the Finnish government for co-funding the Ministry of Higher Education at a value of nine million euros.

This is part of a larger agreement also funded by Ireland, Norway and Germany at a value of $92 million and that will be implemented over three years.  

Fayyad thanked the Finnish government for its support of Palestinians, especially in the education sector, and of their effort in building a strong infrastructure of Palestinian institutions, thus enhancing their readiness to establish a Palestinian state.

Fayyad referred to Finland's important political role in supporting the Palestinian cause.

Pia Rantala-Engberg, representative of Finland at the Palestinian Authority, stressed her country's commitment to supporting the Palestinian cause and assisting the Palestinians in building institutions and infrastructure of their independent state.

The Finnish government donated about $50 million to Palestine until 2007 in the fields of budget support, institution building, infrastructure and humanitarian aid. Finland also committed in the Paris Donors Conference to give $20 million in the period 2008-2010, where $5 million would be allocated to supporting the Palestinian Authority's budget while the rest would support various sectors.

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