Ministers Lintilä and Skinnari to promote Finnish exports to Sweden in the food, textiles and health sectors

Minister of Economic Affairs Mika Lintilä and Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari will make a virtual Team Finland visit to Sweden on 15 April 2021. The visit is intended to intensify trade relations between Finnish and Swedish companies, particularly in the food and beverage industries, the textile industry and the sustainable healthcare sectors.

The coronavirus pandemic has opened up new opportunities for trade between Finland and Sweden. Of Finland’s key trade partners, exports towards Sweden have fallen the least. Finnish export companies now invest primarily in neighbouring markets.

Finland and Sweden seek sustainable growth

Both countries strive for socially and ecologically sustainable economic growth. Their cooperation is now set to discover innovative business solutions in support of circular economy.

“The aim of this virtual visit is to create cooperation models and discover sustainable business solutions. Sweden has just published a circular economy action plan introducing a 100-point scoring system, while Finland has in place a new circular economy strategy under the current Government Programme. I believe that these policy frameworks will offer interesting opportunities and support for B2B cooperation, prompting business development and new sustainable solutions,” Minister Lintilä says.

Sweden is Finland’s closest trade and economic partner

Sweden can act as an efficient springboard to global markets for Finnish companies. During the visit, a large number of companies will have an opportunity to promote their exports in the food and beverage industries, the textile industry and the sustainable healthcare sectors.

“There is now a global demand for Finnish expertise and Finnish solutions. Initiating exports in these fields with Sweden is a good opportunity to learn about international business, and this knowhow can later be expanded to other parts of Europe and to the rest of the world. I visited Stockholm last week, and there is now a mutual resolve to do things together because international competition is so tough,” says Minister Skinnari.

Some 40 Finnish companies will participate in the event. They include Oats by Kinnusen Mylly Oy, Hartwall, Helsinki Mills, Helsinki Wildfoods Oy, Kiantama Oy, Laitilan Wirvoitusjuomatehdas Oy, Porokylän Leipomo, Real Snacks Oy, Suomisen Maito Oy, Tenu Ventures Ltd, TwoDads Ltd, Weekend Snacks Ltd, Coveross Oy, Emmy Clothing Company, NordShield, Oikiat Design Oy, RePack, Touchpoint, Rester Ltd, Woodly, Abomics Oy, ARKCON, BeingHealthy Oy, BusinessOulu, Coronaria, Envera Oy, Futurice, Granlund Oy, Helvar, Itula, Medanets, Medixine, Megical, Monidot, Newlcon Oy, Nukute Ltd, Secapp, Timmi Software Ltd, Tridify, and University of Oulu. 

Team Finland is a network of public sector actors that provide internationalisation services to Finnish companies. The network provides businesses with a smooth service chain, ranging from advice services to financing, and organises international export promotion visits. Participants from the Swedish side include buying agents, members of Swedish chambers of commerce and representatives of various organisations.

Inquiries:

Nina Alatalo, Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs (EU Affairs), Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 7171

Kati Shibutani, Senior Specialist, Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, tel. +358 29 504 9047

Tiina Vainio, Special Adviser to the Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 50 524 6559