Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted neighbouring countries to seek new partners, Finland’s trade minister says, as he and Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin embark on a historic trade mission to Australia.

The Minister for Development Co-operation and Foreign Trade, Ville Skinnari, said that despite the vast distance between the two countries, there was great synergy between Australia and Finland, citing green technology, forestry, mining, digitalisation, education and research, and cybersecurity as sectors of potential co-operation.