President Lennart Meri visited the Civil Engineering Fair in Lappeenranta in Eastern Finland on 4 August in order to learn about single family homes that Finnish companies produced. President said that the present housing problem in Estonia resembles the situation in post-war Finland – it is necessary to build a lot rapidly and inexpensively.

At the fair the President had a look at various Finnish prefabricated houses, inquired into environmentally friendly heating systems and also into the possibilities of financing housing development which could be used as an example to implement the housing programme for young families in Estonia quickly and feasibly.

President of the Republic met Markku Andersson, Mayor of Lappeenranta, Hannu Myyrylainen, Chairman of the Board of the Fair Centre, and Erkki Kuoppamäki, Managing Director of the Fair Centre. The President was accompanied at the fair by Vello Asi, Professor of Architecture, and Erik Somelar, councillor at the Office of the President.

Last week President Meri visited the Tiskre residential neighbourhood near Tallinn and learnt about the possibilities of Kodumaja Group to implement the housing programme for young families.


Press Service of the Office of the President
Kadriorg, August 6, 1999

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