Join the event to learn more about the opportunities of Southeast Europe and establish direct contacts with the Team Finland representatives.

Business Finland and the Embassies of Finland in Southeast Europe, in cooperation with the Finland-Central and Eastern European Countries Business Association, Finland Chamber of Commerce, Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce and Enteprise Europe Network (EEN) will organize an event presenting Southeast European market business opportunities on Wednesday, April 17 at 09:30 – 15:00 at Team Finland House in Helsinki. Register by April 12.

According to the IMF’s forecast, the GDP growth of the countries in the region will be approx. 3-4% per year in the next five years. In 2023, Finland’s exports of goods to the region increased by 16%, although globally Finland’s exports of goods decreased by 7%. The region is logistically close to the Central European markets and production costs are lower. In addition, the EU has ongoing development and investment programs in the region worth about 100 billion euros.

The total annual trade in goods and services between Finland and the region is about 2.5 billion euros. There are about 150 Finnish subsidiaries in the region, which employ more than 10,000 people. In the region, Finland is known for the high-quality products, cleantech, digital solutions and education.

WHY TO PARTICIPATE
At the event you will learn about the business opportunities in the region, financing options to support your exports and investments as well as hear Finnish company business cases. In addition, you can establish direct contacts with the locally present Team Finland export support services, meet Finnish ambassadors and Helsinki-based ambassadors of the countries of the region. Some companies, Chambers of Commerce and other stakeholders from the region will also be present.

The following countries will be presented: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Greece, Croatia, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Romania, and Serbia.

PROGRAM
09:30 Registration and coffee

10:00 Introduction

10:15 Opening remarks by Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Business Finland

Mr. Risto Vuohelainen, Executive Director, Global Growth, Business Finland
Mr. Ville Tavio, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development

10:30 Overview to the region – Why to Go?

Mr. Janne Sykkö, Trade Counsellor, South East Europe, Embassy of Finland, Serbia

10:45 Finnish business cases in the region – How to Go?

1. Case 1. Nokian Tyres’s new factory in Romania – Ms. Susanna Tusa, VP, Romania Operations, General Director, Nokian Tyres European Operations S.R.L
2. Case 2. Building a partner network for the exports of goods
3. Case 3. Building a partner network for the exports of services

11:30 How to finance exports and investments?

1. Business Finland – financing support for the opening the markets Mr. Antti Rahikka, Region Head – Central & East Europe, Business Finland
2. Finnvera – export financing and buyer financing
3. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) – investment financing

12:00 Presentation of service providers from the region

12:10 Closing the event and instructions for the afternoon

12:20 Networking lunch

13:00 – 15:00 Country specific meetings with the Ambassadors, Business Finland, and the companies from the region