President Ahtisaari encourages lotteries to cooperate for the development of global welfare

The first keynote speaker in the Business Programme was Nobel Peace Prize Laureate 2008 and former President of Finland, Mr Martti Ahtisaari. He talked about the role of state lotteries as enablers of welfare. President Ahtisaari encouraged the European state lotteries to cooperation, knowledge sharing, and solidarity from the perspective of two challenges.  



– The first challenge is the challenge of the open door. As the leaders of some of the richest lotteries in the world, you hold the keys to a treasure that many countries have not yet found. I urge you to open your door to those who need your knowledge and your guidance for implementing a national lottery in their country.

– My second challenge for you is the challenge of creating a global game for the support of global causes. You are among the rare groups in the world who have the means to do something very concrete to help make our world a better place. I know that there is a project ongoing between the major lottery groups of the world to make this a reality. I truly wish you success in this endeavor. Your global project will be more successful and sustainable if a part of it is used to address a truly global purpose.