Presentation at Vietnam Open for Business seminar, Mar 13 2014.

1. Ambassador Kimmo Lähdevirta
Finland in Vietnam –
an introduction
Vietnam

2. Why this seminar?
2

3. – We want to create a spark!
– Last year: Business Partnership Seminars in 11
cities around Vietnam with the aim of finding
willing and able Vietnamese companies
– This year: Raise interest among Finnish companies
and institutions in order to establish partnerships,
enter markets, invest etc.
– We need the joined up and sustained efforts of
the whole Team Finland – including companies
and institutions!
3

4. Why Vietnam?
4
Because both countries need it
and there are good business
opportunities!

5. – Strategically located in South East
asia next to China and close to
important sea routes
– Developing towards becoming the
next manufacturing hub
5
Vietnam
– In addition to trade liberalization, EU-VN FTA, TPP and other
trade agreements expected to improve also business
environment
– Economy growing steadily at 5-6 % per year, in growth centres
around 10 % (Hanoi and HCMC with surrounding areas, Danang)
– Young population (2/3 under 35), growing middle class, low
labour costs (10 % less than China)
=> Great potential for marketing, production and outsourcing!

6. Why Finland and Vietnam?
6
– Many Finnish companies possess the kinds of
products and services that Vietnam needs.
Vietnam also has products to offer Finland
– Finland and Finns have a good reputation in
Vietnam, build up during decades of development
cooperation
– At the moment concessional credits worth €90
million and bilateral projects worth €22 million:
water and sanitation (WSPST III); forestry (FORMIS
II); innovations (IPP II)
– Programs will end around 2017/2018 => we are in
a transition phase = time to seize the opportunity!

7. Trade between Finland and Vietnam is
growing, but still modest
– About 80-100 Finnish companies in Vietnam
– Trade figures according to Finnish Customs in 2013:
Finnish exports €89 million (+20%) + imports €136
million (-1,4 %) = €225 million (+6%)
– Finnish exports mainly machines and appliances,
forestry products; imports mainly shoes, furniture,
clothing and textiles, ICT and office appliances
– But also other things: manufacturing (Nokia,
Huhtamäki, Niemen tehtaat...), direct flight route
between Hanoi and Helsinki (Finnair and Nordic
Global Airlines), financing, services, software
outsourcing etc...
7

8. What Team Finland Vietnam is
and what it can do for you?
8

9. Team Finland Vietnam
– Chairman: Ambassador Kimmo Lähdevirta
– Coordinator/Contact Person for North (Hanoi):
Deputy Head of Mission Annina Barbosa
(annina.barbosa@formin.fi)
– Contact Person for South (HCMC): Finpro Country
Director Eija Tynkkynen (eija.tynkkynen@finpro.fi )
– IPP II Chief Technical Advisor Lauri Laakso
– Water and Sanitation Program CTA Hannu Vikman
– FORMIS II CTA Tapio Leppänen
– Embassy and Finpro staff members
9

10. Services:
– Gather and share information
– Increase the visibility of Finland, Finnish knowhow,
companies and institutions
– Promote partnerships between Finnish and Vietnamese
companies and institutions (remember also IPP,
Finnpartnership and Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and
Industry VCCI)
– Assist Finnish companies and institutions by prestige
services and other practical means
Just get in touch with a Team Finland contact person and ask –
you are not alone in Vietnam!
Team Finland Vietnam’s main goal: create favourable conditions
for a successful transition from development cooperation to
economic and other forms of wider cooperation
10

11. But we cannot succeed
without you!
11