Mr. Jeff Hakko, Honorary Consul General of Finland, awarded the Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland

Mr. Jeff Hakko, Honorary Consul General of Finland, has been awarded the Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland at a reception hosted by Ambassador Ms. Pirkko Hämäläinen at Vakko Hotel & Residence on March 17, 2025.

Jeff Hakko, Vice Chairman of the Board of Vakko Holding and Honorary Consul General of Finland in Istanbul, was honored with the "Order of the Lion of Finland" by the President of Finland for his valuable contributions to strengthening social, cultural, and economic relations between Finland and Turkey. Serving as the Honorary Consul General of Finland in Istanbul since December 14, 2014, Mr. Hakko stands out for his efforts to develop commercial and diplomatic ties between the two countries. This prestigious order, awarded to him on October 3, 2024, was presented by Finnish Ambassador Pirkko Hämäläinen at a ceremony held at Nişantaşı Vakko Hotel and Residence on March 17, 2025.

In her speech at the ceremony, Ambassador Pirkko Hämäläinen thanked Jeff Hakko for his contributions to social, cultural, and diplomatic relations between Turkey and Finland. Jeff Hakko expressed his satisfaction in developing relations between the two countries and his honor in receiving such an order. The official event was attended by Hakko's close family, as well as Istanbul Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Ayşe Sözen Usluer, the Consuls General of Austria, Croatia, Sweden, Japan, Greece, Brazil, and India in Istanbul, and the Honorary Consuls of Portugal, Namibia, Albania, Cook Islands, Trinidad & Tobago, and Peru in Istanbul. The Order of the Lion of Finland is considered one of the most prestigious orders given by the Finnish state to individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the country. Jeff Hakko's receipt of this honor is regarded as an important indicator of the strong cooperation and friendly relations between the two countries.