Alahuhta’s working group: The new Team Finland network model to promote Finland’s external economic relations and the internationalisation of businesses
Press release 15/2012
19 January, 2012
The current way of handling Finland’s external economic relations and the internationalisation of businesses is siloed and fragmented. According to the working group investigating the development of Finland’s external economic relations appointed by Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb in autumn 2011, this is a major constraint on Finland’s ability to benefit from the opportunities brought about by changes in the world economy. The working group proposes that the various actors should form a dense network with a clear strategic leadership under the Prime Minister.
Matti Alahuhta, President and CEO of Kone Corporation who chaired the working group, presented the final report today to Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen, Minister of Economic Affairs Jyri Häkämies and Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade Alexander Stubb at the launch held at Finlandia Hall.
The working group’s key conclusion is that effective promotion of Finland’s external economic relations and financial interests calls for reform of the current approach. Activities require a greater strategic and long-term perspective. The network must be made to work in a consistent and customer-orientated manner to attain common goals. In addition, exertion of influence must be far more extensive than at present.
“A great deal of attention must be paid to how we can support the internationalisation of small and medium-sized enterprises and their growth into global success stories,” Alahuhta stressed.
In the view of the working group, Finland’s external economic relations should be grounded in a new “Team Finland” network approach. The core idea is a network-like structure operating both at home and abroad, which is implemented by developing existing resources and focusing them better. Shared strategic steering under the Prime Minister would be created for the network.
Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen confirmed that the new proposals are highly topical:
“Finland has long lived on foreign trade and internationalism, but the changing world economy and the rise of economic issues to the centre of international politics have made these issues even more important. I’m glad the working group has succeeded in compiling a number of excellent ideas in this area, which is central to our competitiveness.”
Minister Stubb commended the working group for its pragmatic orientation:
“The working group has not succumbed to pigeonholing but has explored how activities can be made truly efficient and influential. The proposals are practical and well thought out. When implemented, they would mean significant improvement in the promotion of Finland’s external economic relations and the internationalisation of businesses. This is a genuine Finnish work project.”
Minister Häkämies emphasised the comprehensiveness of external economic relations:
“Well-functioning external economic relations are a requirement for Finland’s employment and for the international competitiveness of businesses. Alongside the traditional export promotion, the working group rightly calls attention to other forms of internationalisation. It is no longer possible to handle everything while based in Finland; market presence is now essential. Promotion of foreign investment in Finland is also a part of the overall picture.”
The working group and background
The Government Programme approved in June 2011 stated that the Government will prepare a cross-sectoral action plan on Finland’s external economic relations. On 22 August 2011, Minister Stubb invited Kone Corporation President and CEO Matti Alahuhta to assemble a working group of experts to support the drafting of Finland’s action plan on external economic relations and to present proposals for the sector.
The members of the working group were: Matti Alahuhta (chairman), Sari Baldauf, Anne Brunila, Sirkka Hämäläinen-Lindfors, Mika Ihamuotila, Johanna Ikäheimo, Ole Johansson, Mikko Kosonen, Leila Kostiainen, Jussi Pesonen, Maisa Romanainen, Veli Sundbäck and Peter Westerbacka, with permanent experts Jorma Korhonen (Ministry for Foreign Affairs) and Petri Peltonen (Ministry of Employment and the Economy) and Tuomas Tapio (Ministry for Foreign Affairs) as the secretary.
Additional information:
Requests for interviews with the ministers:
Juha Kirstilä, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (Press Relations), tel. +358 9 1602 2242
Antti Timonen, Press Attaché to the Minister for European Affairs and Foreign Trade, tel. +358 9 1605 6014, mobile tel. +358 40 590 7231
Jonna Sjögren, Secretary to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +10 606 3501
Information about the report:
Director General Jorma Korhonen, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 9 1605 5042, [email protected]; and Director General Petri Peltonen, Ministry of Employment and the Economy, tel. +10 606 3662, [email protected]
- Team Finland. Taloudellisten ulkosuhteiden verkosto (Opens New Window) (Report in Finnish)
- Webcast of the press conference(Link to another website.) (Opens New Window)