MFA: This is FINLAND Magazine 2021–2022: The Finnish focus on solutions also works in exceptional times

“Even in exceptional times, it is important to highlight themes that are important to Finland, and to explain what Finland can offer to the rest of the world. As the COVID-19 sniffer dogs at Helsinki-Vantaa International Airport showed last September, Finnish solutions can attract huge international interest. People are increasingly interested in responsibility and sustainable development nowadays, and Finland has a great deal to offer in terms of climate solutions and digitalisation,” says Laura Kamras, Director of the Unit for Public Diplomacy at the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
 

Focus on digitalisation and climate solutions

Finland’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by the year 2035 is one of the most ambitious in industrialised countries. Senior advisor Oras Tynkkynen of the Finnish Innovation Fund – Sitra explains in the latest edition that essential steps for Finland include reforming energy taxation and reducing the use of fossil fuels, promoting a circular economy, and moving towards a climate-friendly food policy. “If you want the whole country to be carbon neutral, you need to act in every sector of society, as we are doing in Finland,” Tynkkynen insists. With particular reference to the plans of Lahti and Turku, the magazine also highlights the important role of cities and municipalities in bringing about climate solutions.

People in Finland adapted relatively quickly to teleworking and teaching during the pandemic year. Throughout the country attitudes soon shifted from asking how do we cope with this? to asserting this is how it works as digitalisation became part of everyday life in schools and homes. Though the hard-hit cultural industry had to close its doors to live audiences, online museum tours were soon set up, and performances were streamed to virtual concert-goers on the couch at home. The magazine lists online destinations, events and recordings that give you a broad view of Finland’s culture at a time when travel is restricted.

Interest shown in health technology and Finnish everyday life

High-standard expertise and new intelligent solutions have made Finnish health technology a global leader, turning this sector into a continually growing export industry segment. The magazine identifies self-measurement devices, various remote services and digital platforms as examples of this expertise.

International attention has also focused on everyday life in Finland. Aalto University researcher and philosopher Frank Martela has analysed the findings of the UN World Happiness Report and the happiness of people in Finland. Martela believes that smooth everyday life and a functioning society form the cornerstone of Finnish happiness. People in Finland trust one another and their institutions. Members of the Finnish public interviewed by the magazine concur: the natural environment, a functioning society and the opportunity to pursue individual interests are what makes a good life.

This publication for international readers provides inspiring perspectives on Finnish expertise, business conditions, innovations and lifestyles as part of Finland’s national branding. The magazine is distributed globally through the distribution channels of its editorial board, with editions in Chinese, French, German, Russian and Spanish also due to appear in March. This is FINLAND Magazine is published by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Business Finland and the Finnish Innovation Fund – Sitra. Otavamedia OMA is responsible for producing the magazine.
 

For further details, please contact:

Laura Kamras, Director, Unit for Public Diplomacy, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 29 535 1558
Mika Hammarén, Communications Officer, Editor-in-Chief, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, tel. +358 29 535 1316
Hetta Huittinen, Head of International Media & PR, Business Finland, tel. +358 40 033 9597
James O’Sullivan, Editor-in-Chief, Good News from Finland, Business Finland, tel. +358 40 544 5922
Sari Tuori, Manager, Internal Communications and Development, Sitra, tel. +358 29 461 8241

The email addresses of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi