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Finland Advanced, articulate and always on time (and no grid-lock)

Finland Advanced, articulate and always on time (and no grid-lock). Briefing for Canadian Clients 2007. A.N. Cooligan Canadian Embassy, Helsinki. Basics. 5.2 Million people 15.5 per square km 62% urban , 38% rural Principle Cities Helsinki Metropolitan Area: 1 million

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Finland Advanced, articulate and always on time (and no grid-lock)

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  1. FinlandAdvanced, articulate and always on time(and no grid-lock) Briefing for Canadian Clients 2007 A.N. Cooligan Canadian Embassy, Helsinki

  2. Basics • 5.2 Million people • 15.5 per square km • 62% urban , 38% rural • Principle Cities • Helsinki Metropolitan Area: 1 million • Helsinki – 560,000, Espoo – 232,000, Vantaa – 187,000 • Tampere – 204,000, Turku – 175,000 Oulu – 129,000 • Sami population – 6,500 • Two official languages • 300,000 Swedish mother tongue • 92 % Finnish mother tongue • 83% Lutheran

  3. Important Dates

  4. Economy • 6% growth in GDP (2006) • 1% less due to 6 week strike and lock-out in paper sector • Exports lead growth • Unemployment expected to drop to 7% in 2007 • Yet companies predict layoffs and operations move overseas • Room for much consolidation within the paper industry • Large firms claim they will keep HQ in Finland regardless of subcontractors following them abroad • 3 Sectors of Economy • ICT • Forestry • Steel, mining

  5. Education • PISA Results 2000 and 2003 • Top in reading, mathematics, and science • 2006 results in December 2007 • Consistent delivery across the country • Ministry of Education and National Board of Education establish curriculum • Finland spent 6.1% of GDP in 2003, slightly below OECD average of 6.3% (per student: $7,500 US vs $12,000 US in USA) • Lunch provided everyday • School age: 7-16 • Free university • Monthly stipend • Foreign languages starts at age 8-9 • Second language (Finnish or Swedish) mandatory from grade 7

  6. Politics Today • Head of State: President Mrs. Tarja Halonen • Elected in 2000; reelected in 2006 • President is elected for 6 year term by direct popular vote • Parliament • One chamber with 200 members • Members elected for 4 year term • Election: March 18, 2007 • Coalition government headed by Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen • 20 ministers • Centre Patry, National Coalition Party, the GReen League, and the Swedish Poeple’s Party • Canada identified as key partner

  7. Average Incomes Source: Statistics Canada, Statistics Finland Men €: 25,172, Women: € 17,350

  8. World Leader in TechnologyStrong Support Infrastructure for Research • Tekes • Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation • VTT • Technical Research Centre of Finland • Academy of Finland • Primary Research • SITRA • Public Innovation Fund • Reports directly to Parliament

  9. World Leader in Tecnology For a country with cold winters... District heating melts sidewalks of capital 26% of Finland’s energy derived from bioenergy, predominantly from the forestry sector

  10. World Leader in Tecnology For a country without tall buildings... world leader in elevators

  11. World Leader in Tecnology For a country without great diving... world leader in underwater navigation devices Finland has developed expertise in heart-rate monitors, strong in ’wellness’ industries

  12. World Leader in Tecnology For a country rich in forest resources... Improved methods for wood treatment ICT applications used throughout all sectors

  13. World Leader in Tecnology • Mobility • Nokia Q1-07 36% market share • VoIP, IP convergence, IPTV • Canadian technologies integrated into Nokia products • Nokia Siemens Network • 10% of wireless calls are actually wireless • - infrastructure integral

  14. World Leader in Tecnology • Everyday applications • use a credit card to enter and leave parking garage • swipe smart cards on trams and buses. • Buy bus tickets by sms • pre-purchase and assign seating at movies • airline check-in and seat selection by sms • start the sauna by sms • Integrated banking • what’s a cheque?

  15. Canada – Finland Value of bilateral commercial relations $ 4.6 Billion CAN *based on exchange rate of 1.4

  16. Canada – Finland Value of bilateral commercial relations - 2005 Source: Statistics Canada Total Bilateral: $ 4,627,784,000 Or ~ $ 4.6 Billion CAN

  17. S&T and Research Cooperation with Canada • Memorandum of Understanding • Space • Addiction, Substance Abuse • Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement • Industrial Securitry Cooperation • 813 joint research projects between Canadian and Finnish Universities

  18. Canadian Embassy in HelsinkiOur Team • Anne-Marie Bourcier, Ambassador • Andrée Cooligan, Commercial Program Manager • Johan Nyman, Trade Commissioner • Nina Tiittanen, Trade Commissioner Assistant • Seppo Vihersaari, Trade Commissioner Tel. 09-22 85 30 Web: infoexport.gc.ca/fi Fax. 09-60 10 60 Web: canada.fi

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