Introducing Honorary Consul General Leonardo Ferragamo
Leonardo Ferragamo is Honorary Consul General of Finland in Florence for the regions of Tuscany and Umbria
When and how did you start as an Honorary Consul of Finland?
I was appointed Honorary Consul for the regions of Tuscany and Umbria in September 2012 and in September 2017 I was elevated to Honorary Consul General. This role is the result of a longstanding relation with Finland for my sailing boat passion consolidated in 1998 when I took over the Nautor Swan’s yard, starting an important experience of integrated knowledge, skills and acknowledges.
What is the best thing as your work as an Honorary Consul?
Like in my entrepreneurial activity, the core mission in this role is to identify synergies and create cooperation in the respect of history, tradition and cultures.
What is Finland known for in the region you cover?
Finland is not only the country of Santa Claus, northern lights, forests and lakes or sauna. It is the birthplace of important artists, who loved Italy and took inspiration from its classic architecture, culture, music and landscape to develop their work and art. Among them the architect and designer Alvar Aalto and the composer Jean Sibelius. The Finnish painter Elin Danielson, married Gambogi.
Finland is known for its education system that is highly rated in the world, but also for investments in research and new technologies leading the country to excel in digital field, innovation and sustainable economy. Finland is also famous for gender equality, proven for example by the high number of women in politics.
What does your region have to offer to Finnish people and Finnish companies?
Tuscany and Umbria are very important destinations and rich regions where landscape blends in with history, artistic legacy and important economy. In these territories, there is a very integrated community of Finnish people working in culture, art, tourism, agriculture and industry in general.
The consolidated relations both on an institutional and cultural level of these regions with Finland and the universities hosting student exchanges are an important asset to increase connections, to create synergies or optimize technologies for the innovative use of the many resources available, in different fields: Agriculture (wine and oil) and industry in general, with special attention to the districts of leather, textile and glass production, handicraft, design, fashion, healthcare and tourism.
Which Finnish expression or habit do you like the most and why
I consider Finns trustworthy, meticulous and passionate of their cultural identity and in strict connection with nature. However, may I say that they seem calm “until you put them driving in a Formula One car!”
Finally nothing more Finnish than enjoying sauna!
Leonardo Ferragamo (in the middle) was awarded with a decoration of Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland in 2008. At the Embassy of Finland Ambassador Pauli Mäkelä (on the left), Ambassador of Italy Elisabetta Kelescian and Paavo Lipponen.