Finland Advanced, articulate and always on time (and no grid-lock) A.N. Cooligan Canadian Embassy, Helsinki Briefing for Canadian Clients 2007

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 1155First Crusade to Finland by Swedes. Finland becomes part of Swedish realm 1809Finland is handed over to Russia by Sweden and becomes an autonamous Grand Duchy under the Russian Czar 1917Finland declares independance on December The present constituation is adopted and Finland becomes a republic 1955Finland joins the United Nations 1995Finland joins the EU 2002Finland 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 Source: Statistics Canada, Statistics Finland Men €: 25,172, Women: € 17,350 MenWomen Finland$ 38, 251$ 26, 365 Canada$ 40, 300$ 25, 600

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 Q % 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 Canadian Exports to Finland $ 433,236,000 CAN Finnish Exports to Canada $ 1,217,548,000 CAN Finnish Direct Investment to Canada $ 2,778 Million CAN Canadian Direct Investment to Finland $ 199 Million CAN Total Bilateral: $ 4,627,784,000 Or ~ $ 4.6 Billion CAN Source: Statistics Canada

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