Transcript Document

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
Poeple’s Party
– Canada identified as key partner
Average Incomes
Finland
Men
$ 38, 251
Women
$ 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
– Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation
•
VTT
– Technical Research Centre of Finland
•
Academy 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 Finland’s 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
what’s 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
Andrée 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