Finland Travel Guide - Business

• GDP: US$176 billion (2006).
• Main exports: Machinery and equipment, chemicals, metals, timber, paper and pulp.
• Main imports: Food, petroleum and petroleum products, chemicals, transport equipment, iron and steel.
• Main trade partners: EU (mainly Germany, Sweden and UK), Russian Federation and USA.

While the 1990s were a difficult time for Finland, the economy has been booming in the new century. The country's economy has traditionally been driven by two main export industries: timber and paper, and heavy manufacturing. However, in recent years, the development of a top-end optics and telecommunications sector has really launched Finland onwards and upwards to the point where it now accounts for some 30% of Finnish exports. Growth, which suffered an alarming dip a few years back, is now gradually increasing, and stands at some 5.5%. Finland's GNP per capita is around €31,000, which puts it on a par with Western Europe's major economies.

Finland also has an important agricultural sector, and is virtually self-sufficient in basic foodstuffs such as grain, dairy products and root crops. Industry, however is heavily dependent on imported components. Finland has exploited its geographical position to develop strong trading links both within Europe and with Russia, and Finnish companies have been involved in several prominent overseas takeovers in recent years.

Although unemployment in rural areas continues to be a problem (the overall rate stands at around 7%), Finland ranks consistently highly on standard-of-living indices. Although the economy has been liberalised, the traditional network of social welfare services remains strong.

Businesspeople are expected to dress smartly, although European-style business attire is now becoming more common than the suit-and-tie. Most Finnish businesspeople speak English and/or German. Finnish is a complex language; details of available courses may be obtained from the Council for the Instruction of Finnish for Foreigners, Pohjoisranta 4 A 4, 00171 Helsinki (tel: (9) 134 171). Local tourist boards and travel agents will be able to assist in finding translation services. Punctuality is essential for business and social occasions. Business cards are commonly exchanged. Best months for business visits are March to May and September to December; Finns take holidays in February, and things virtually shut down from late June to the end of July.

Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1615.

There is a wide selection of meeting facilities from state-of-the-art conference centres to ice castles. Nearly all hotels have some sort of conference facilities, which sometimes include a sauna.

Keskuskauppakamari (Central Chamber of Commerce of Finland)
PO Box 1000, 00101 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: (9) 696 969.
Website: www.kauppakamari.fi

Finland Convention Bureau (Information on Conferences/Conventions)
Fabianinkatu 4 B 11, 00130 Helsinki, Finland
Tel: (9) 6689 5410.
Website: www.finlandconventionbureau.fi

FINPRO in the UK
Finland Trade Centre,177-179 Hammersmith Road, London W6 8BS, UK
Tel: (020) 8600 7260.
Website: www.finpro.fi