Finland

Advanced, articulate and always on time

(and no grid-lock)

Briefing for Canadian Clients

2007
A.N. Cooligan
Canadian Embassy, Helsinki

Basics

5.2 Million people

15.5 per square km
62% urban , 38% rural

Principle Cities

Helsinki Metropolitan Area: 1 million

Helsinki 560,000, Espoo 232,000, Vantaa 187,000
Tampere 204,000, Turku 175,000 Oulu 129,000

Sami population 6,500

Two official languages
300,000 Swedish mother tongue
92 % Finnish mother tongue

83% Lutheran

Important Dates
1155

First Crusade to Finland by Swedes. Finland becomes part of Swedish

realm

1809

Finland is handed over to Russia by Sweden and becomes an

autonamous Grand Duchy under the Russian Czar

1917

Finland declares independance on December 6

1919

The present constituation is adopted and Finland becomes a republic

1955

Finland joins the United Nations

1995

Finland joins the EU

2002

Finland adopts the Euro

Economy

6% growth in GDP (2006)

1% less due to 6 week strike and lock-out in paper sector
Exports lead growth

Unemployment expected to drop to 7% in 2007

Yet companies predict layoffs and operations move overseas
Room for much consolidation within the paper industry
Large firms claim they will keep HQ in Finland regardless of
subcontractors following them abroad

3 Sectors of Economy
ICT
Forestry
Steel, mining

Education

PISA Results 2000 and 2003

Top in reading, mathematics, and science
2006 results in December 2007

Consistent delivery across the country

Ministry of Education and National Board of Education establish
curriculum
Finland spent 6.1% of GDP in 2003, slightly below OECD average
of 6.3% (per student: $7,500 US vs $12,000 US in USA)

Lunch provided everyday

School age: 7-16
Free university
Monthly stipend

Foreign languages starts at age 8-9

Second language (Finnish or Swedish) mandatory from grade 7

Politics Today

Head of State: President Mrs. Tarja Halonen

Elected in 2000; reelected in 2006
President is elected for 6 year term by direct popular vote

Parliament
One chamber with 200 members
Members elected for 4 year term

Election: March 18, 2007

Coalition government headed by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen
20 ministers
Centre Patry, National Coalition Party, the GReen League, and the Swedish
Poeples Party
Canada identified as key partner

Average Incomes
Men

Women

Finland

$ 38, 251

$ 26, 365

Canada

$ 40, 300

$ 25, 600

Source: Statistics Canada, Statistics Finland

Men : 25,172, Women: 17,350

World Leader in Technology

Strong Support Infrastructure for Research

Tekes

VTT

Academy of Finland

Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation

Technical Research Centre of Finland
Primary Research

SITRA
Public Innovation Fund
Reports directly to Parliament

World Leader in Tecnology

For a country
with cold
winters...
District heating
melts
sidewalks of
capital
26% of Finlands energy derived from bioenergy,
predominantly from the forestry sector

World Leader in Tecnology

For a country
without tall
buildings...
world leader in
elevators

World Leader in Tecnology

For a country
without great
diving...
world leader in
underwater
navigation
devices
Finland has developed expertise in heart-rate
monitors, strong in wellness industries

World Leader in Tecnology

For a country
rich in forest
resources...
Improved
methods for
wood
treatment
ICT applications used throughout all sectors

World Leader in Tecnology

Mobility
- Nokia Q1-07 36% market
share
- VoIP, IP convergence,
IPTV
- Canadian technologies
integrated into Nokia
products
-Nokia Siemens Network
- 10% of wireless calls are
actually wireless
- infrastructure integral

World Leader in Tecnology

-

Everyday applications
use a credit card to enter and leave
parking garage
swipe smart cards on trams and
buses.
Buy bus tickets by sms
pre-purchase and assign seating at
movies
airline check-in and seat selection
by sms
start the sauna by sms
Integrated banking
whats a cheque?

Canada Finland
Value of bilateral commercial relations

$ 4.6 Billion CAN

*based on exchange rate of

1.4

Canada Finland
Value of bilateral commercial relations - 2005
Canadian Exports to Finland

Finnish Exports to Canada

$ 1,217,548,000 CAN

Finnish Direct Investment to Canada

$ 2,778 Million CAN

Canadian Direct Investment to Finland

433,236,000 CAN

199 Million CAN

Source: Statistics Canada

Total Bilateral: $ 4,627,784,000

Or ~
$ 4.6 Billion CAN

S&T and Research

Cooperation with Canada
Memorandum of Understanding
Space
Addiction, Substance Abuse

Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement

Industrial Securitry Cooperation
813 joint research projects between Canadian and
Finnish Universities

Canadian Embassy in Helsinki

Our Team

Anne-Marie Bourcier, Ambassador

Andre Cooligan, Commercial Program Manager
Johan Nyman, Trade Commissioner
Nina Tiittanen, Trade Commissioner Assistant
Seppo Vihersaari, Trade Commissioner

Tel. 09-22 85 30
Fax. 09-60 10 60

Web: infoexport.gc.ca/fi
Web: canada.fi