Current affairs

The State Council of Educational Research and Training, Government of Punjab, signed a landmark agreement for cooperation in education development with the University of Turku, Finland, on September 26. A ceremony to commemorate this occasion was held at the Embassy of Finland in New Delhi on September 27. Dignitaries present included the Ambassador of Finland to India, Mr. Kimmo Lähdevirta, and Shri Harjot Singh Bains, Education Minister, Government of Punjab. As part of the agreement, elementary school teachers and school heads/administrators from Punjab will participate in a three-week Professional Training Programme at the University of Turku. This training will focus on early childhood and primary education, providing comprehensive exposure to Finland’s world-renowned education system. Participants will also visit Finnish schools and classrooms, gaining valuable insights into pedagogical approaches, leadership and working life skills, and the integration of technology in education.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has sent out for comments a proposal for a new Decree of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs on Fees for Services Produced by the Foreign Service in 2025. It is proposed that several of the Foreign Ministry's services which are currently provided free of charge should be made chargeable.

The high-level meetings of the 79th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79) will start in New York on 24 September. Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio will attend ministerial events in New York and have bilateral meetings with their counterparts and with representatives of the UN.

The Government approved the proposal for the Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation on 11 July 2024. The report complements the Report on Foreign and Security Policy with more detailed trade and development policy measures.

On 27 June 2024, Minister of Economic Affairs Wille Rydman and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio appointed Elina Björklund (M.Sc., Economics), Chairperson of the Board of Reima Group, to serve as the rapporteur preparing the reform of the Team Finland network of business services abroad to integrate the foreign functions of Business Finland with the Foreign Service.

Finnish civil society organisations (CSOs) and their partners promote the objectives of Finland’s development cooperation with the help of funding granted by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The Foreign Ministry has awarded approximately EUR 19.4 million in government grants for Finnish CSOs’ development cooperation projects in 2025–2028.

In order to facilitate swift identification process and to make sure all student applicants are able to begin their studies in Finland on time, identification of student applicants will be prioritized from 1st of July onwards.

The Government has approved the proposal for the Report on Finnish Foreign and Security Policy. The report assesses Finland’s foreign and security policy environment and defines Finland’s objectives and priorities for the next few years.

The management structure of the Team Finland network in Finland will be renewed and the foreign activities of Business Finland will be integrated into the Foreign Service. The changes will proceed in stages and the implementation will take place in cooperation with the business community.

A total of 15,071 persons visited the Finnish diplomatic and consular missions abroad to vote in advance in the elections to the European Parliament. Altogether 150 crew members voted on board Finnish vessels. In the 2019 European elections, 16,547 persons voted abroad at the Finnish missions and on board vessels.