Finland rose to the top three in a comparison of developing country supporters
Press Release 283/2014
17.12.2014
Finland placed third on the Commitment to Development Index (CDI), an international comparison rating the policies of countries that support developing countries. Finland’s rank rose by two places on the previous year. Finland is praised in particular for its responsible investments in developing countries and for promoting financial transparency. The rankings for the quality of development aid and technological development also improved.
Each year the Centre for Global Development (CGD), a think tank, ranks the world’s 27 richest countries on the basis of their dedication to policies that benefit poor nations. The CDI scores measures in seven policy areas important to developing countries: development cooperation, trade, finance, migration, environment, security and technology. Denmark and Sweden top the list this year, as they did a year ago.
Finland ranks among the nine best in all areas with the exception of trade (12th place) and migration (21st place). Finland retained its top position for finance. Director for Europe Owen Barder of the CGD commends Finland’s strong performance in the transparency of finance. Finland’s strengths also include insurance against political risks and healthy investment, a good example being screening of potential projects on the environment, human and labor rights.
Finland retained its previous good results for the environment (4th) and security (5th). Finland’s development assistance is of high quality and is transparent (8th). As to technology (6th), the comparison noted the Finnish Government’s support for innovation and research. The ranking for migration policy remains clearly below the average. The relatively high proportion of foreign students is not enough to compensate for the low share of immigrants arriving from developing countries.
Additional information: Ulla Järvelä-Seppinen, Senior Advisor, Development Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 351 812, Sari Lehtiranta, Director of the Unit for General Development Policy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 295 352 139