Consulate General of Finland in New York

Tack Minister f?r Nordiskt Samarbete Anders Adlercreutz f?r er tid idag f?r att diskutera Finlands ordf?randeskap 2025 i Nordiska Ministerr?det. I New York ?r det nordiska samarbetet mellan generalkonsulaten en viktig del f?r att fr?mja Nordisk kultur och n?ringsliv.

We are very happy to share that Marimekko′s President and CEO Tiina Alahuhta-Kasko is featured in the list of 50 most inspiring business leaders from around the world, published today by Thinkers50! Leaders50 recognizes extraordinary leaders enhancing organisational performance, advancing social and environmental sustainability, and fostering future-ready leadership. "Thank you Thinkers50 for this wonderful acknowledgement – this is truly a tribute to the great work of the entire Marimekko team!," says?Alahuhta-Kasko.?

Thank you Tuija Karanko, Secretary General at PIA - Finnish Defence and Aerospace Industries for a highly useful meeting and conversation this morning. As we try to double down, as a country, to increase our exports and helping Finnish companies grow, the defense, aerospace and dual-use sectors must increasingly be in focus. At a time when “Si vis pacem, para bellum” rings truer than in a very long time, strengthening our industrial base is good not only for our security but also for our economy.

Slush is nowadays a bit like Davos or the New York Climate week in the sense that it brings together an impressively wide range of people and companies. At times I felt that half of my contacts in New York came to Helsinki for networking, deals and more. Huge thanks to Michael Student Sullivan & Worcester LLP for inviting me to a networking dinner. Always a pleasure to meet Jaakko Sulander Nokia. Also hope to continue discussions with Scott Kaufman from Sullivan about how Finnish companies could learn from their peers in other countries regarding successful U.S. market entry.

During Slush week, one has serendipitous encounters with people you know from New York — or Boston for that matter. Pictured is Henrik Totterman, D.Sc., Finland’s Honorary Consul in Boston, to whom I just ran at the Academic Bookstore, one of the best bookstores in Europe!

Great to reconnect with Reggie Rusan ????, Chief Commercial Officer of eSystems Nordic, whom I first met when serving as Ambassador for Innovation in Helsinki over five years ago! Thank you for sharing your insights about the challenges and opportunities for expat business leaders in Finland. Great quote from you: “To succeed, you need to adapt to the environment and not expect the environment to adapt to you.” — So true, but I wish more Finnish companies were able to adapt, even a little bit more, to the talent we so dearly need from abroad. Thank you also for eSystems “Sweet Automation” chocolate bar by Fazer. As I said, Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland should have these bars with an uplifting wrapping to share, be it in New York, Nairobi or Nicosia!

Another Honorary Consul of ours I met today in Helsinki! Thank you Elaine Kumpula and husband Richard Shrake from Minneapolis for a great conversation and for telling me about your Slush week. Look forward to seeing you the week after next in New York at the Finnish Independence Day reception! State level cooperation will be ever more important for Finland when we search for mutually beneficial business opportunities, both in the United States and in Finland. As a state with a thriving economy and highly skilled workforce, Minnesota should remain a land of opportunity for Finnish companies. I’m looking forward to taking part in the Trade Mission to Minnesota for Finnish Digital Health and MedTech companies in April, 2025. Minnesota, home to Mayo Clinic and a hub of MedTech innovation, offers great opportunities for Finnish companies looking to expand into the US market.

Did you know?????Six U.S. states?partnered?with Finland to drive trade, investment, and innovation across borders! These collaborations support Finnish companies entering the U.S. market and encourage U.S. businesses to establish roots in Finland. #finland

Congratulations to Fiskars Group on their 375th anniversary! Honored to have an opportunity to meet and hear from Nathalie Ahlstr?m, their CEO, as she spoke so eloquently on pioneering #design, #sustainability, and the #Nordic business model, which Fiskars successfully implements globally in their operations. With Fiskars’s US operations based nearby, Nathalie spoke at the business school at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Appreciated hearing as well from Keijo Karjalainen of the Consulate General of Finland in New York as he discussed the Finnish government’s efforts to support Finnish business at home and abroad. After starting in 1649 in a small Finnish village, which you can still visit on your next trip to #Finland, Fiskars now operates in 60 countries. While we all know their iconic orange handled scissors and innovative gardening tools, you may have more Fiskars products in your homes than you realize as they also produce IITTALA vases, Moomin Arabia cups, Georg Jensen jewelry, Wedgwood china, and Waterford crystal. Best wishes to Fiskars on your next 375 years!

At Slush 2024, Business Finland hosting ”Climate tech for built environment — Go-to-market event!” The U.S. track currently featuring presentations by Vektor.Materialisting MegaSense SmartCity and EKOTEKT!