The partnership between Finland and the state of Washington is advancing

Ambassador Mikko Hautala, Finnish companies and research organizations visited the state of Washington in October 2022. The focus of this Team Finland trip was cooperation between Finland and Washington in the forestry and bioeconomy sectors. Washington Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and Washington State Department of Natural Resources hosted the visit.

Forests and forest industry have played a crucial role in both Finland and Washington for decades. Both Washingtonians and Finns share a close relationship to nature. Finland, the most forested country in Europe (forests cover 76 % of the land area), manages its forests sustainably. Finnish forests have been outgrowing any harvesting for the past 50 years. Furthermore, Finnish companies have knowledge to develop sustainable bio-based products from wood as well as taking advantage of biomass and forest residuals. There is a lot of cooperation potential between Finland and Washington State in these sectors, to e.g. enhance forest health, prevent wildfires and collect biomass from forests for bioenergy and new products.

Two events were organized at the National Nordic Museum during the Ambassador’s visit to Seattle: a fireside chat about Russia’s war in Ukraine and Finland’s NATO membership(Link to another website.) as well as an opening event of photography exhibition Alvar Aalto’s Jyväskylä. The exhibition, co-produced by the Embassy of Finland, the Consulate General of Finland in New York and the Finnish Cultural Institute in New York, will be on display at the National Nordic Musum until February 12, 2023.

One of the highlights of the trip was meeting the Seattle Kraken’s Finnish forward, Joonas Donskoi, VP of Government Relations & Outreach Eric Pettigrew and VP for Sustainability and Transportation Rob Johnson, who talked about the sustainability targets and efforts of the Climate Pledge Arena.

Ambassador Hautala met for example Marilyn Strickland, Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell, Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, State Senators Marko Liias and Lisa Wellman, Port of Tacoma Commissioner Deanna Keller, Assistant Secretary Patty Rubstello, Washington State Ferries, as well as business, cultural and media representatives during his visit to the state of Washington.

Cooperation possibilities between Finland and Washington State include also university and research cooperation, connectivity including 5G/6G solutions, as well as maritime and port solutions and the modernization of transport systems. Air carrier Finnair’s seasonal direct route between Seattle and Finland’s capital city, Helsinki, helps enhance the movement of people and talents between the state and Finland.

Links:
Ambassador Hautala talks to Monocle 24 about Finland’s NATO membership and Russia’s war in Ukraine(Link to another website.) (Interview from ca. 33:35 onwards)
Ambassador Hautala talks to The Daily of University of Washington about the partnership between Finland and the State of Washington(Link to another website.)
Memorandum of Understanding between Finland and the State of Washington
Release of Washington State Department of Natural Resources about the visit of the Finnish delegation(Link to another website.)

Written and photos by: Suvi Järvelä-Hagström, Embassy of Finland