Risto Siilasmaa appointed Vice Chairman of the Steering Group
Team Finland boosts its services to entrepreneurs

The Team Finland network is developing its domestic services. The aim is to simplify companies’ access to the services of the network and to improve the smoothness of service. Prime Minister Juha Sipilä has today appointed a new Steering Group for the network, with Risto Siilasmaa as Vice Chairman.

The Team Finland network is developing its domestic services. Thanks to the new service model, network organisations can serve companies in an unbroken chain, without referring them from one organisation to another. The first noticeable changes are the service number and online contact form launched on Thursday 27 August.

“The idea underlying Team Finland’s new domestic service model is simple: a company gets all the services it needs from a single service point. In other words, the company need not know the division of tasks between public organisations in order to obtain services. Instead of wasting time with complex administrative structures, attention is directed towards conquering new markets and building the prerequisites for new growth. This calls for Finnish team spirit, which is exactly what Team Finland is all about,” Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn says.

Service is boosted by centralising customer service and deepening organisations’ cooperation in managing accounts. A team is assembled that best serves the company’s needs and combines the expertise of various organisations. The team plans a service proposal for the customer and handles the customer’s changing needs. Regional activities are carried out in cooperation with local actors, including regional development agencies, chambers of commerce and the Federation of Finnish Enterprises. Thanks to the new model, the entrepreneur need not know the details about the services provided by different organisations.

“Finnish expertise is in demand abroad. The government’s task is to ensure that companies have a good operating environment. Well-functioning internationalisation services are an integral element in this,” Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka stresses.

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä has appointed Risto Siilasmaa, Chairman of the Board of Nokia Corporation and F-Secure Corporation, to act as Vice Chairman of the Steering Group. Prime Minister Sipilä himself serves as Chairman of the Steering Group. The following persons were appointed members of the Steering Group: Ilkka Kivimäki, Partner, Inventure Oy; Nina Kopola, President and CEO, Suominen Corporation; Päivi Leiwo, Chairman of the Board, Oilon Oy; Paula Salastie, CEO, Teknos Group Oy; Paula Lehtomäki, State Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office; Peter Stenlund, Secretary of State, Ministry for Foreign Affairs; Jari Gustafsson, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Employment and the Economy (as of 1 October 2015); and Anita Lehikoinen, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education and Culture.

“Development of the Team Finland network continues in line with the Government Programme. We want to help even more new, internationally competitive companies gain access to world markets. At the same time, we steer organisations providing internationalisation services to an even deeper cooperation,” Prime Minister Juha Sipilä states.  

The Steering Group is appointed for the Government’s term, and is responsible for the strategic steering of the network and setting its goals. Its composition ensures interaction between the corporate world and government.

The Team Finland network brings together all of the services offered by state-funded actors that work to promote the internationalisation of Finnish companies, to attract direct foreign investments to Finland, and to promote Finland’s country brand. The Ministry of Employment and the Economy, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Culture, and the publicly funded organisations under their supervision that offer internationalisation services make up the core of the network.

Team Finland’s service number is +358 295 020 510. The contact form can be found at https://www.tekes.fi/en/team-finland-contact/

Inquiries: Anna-Kaisa Heikkinen, Special Adviser to the Prime Minister (International Affairs), tel. +358 40 7483 867, Prime Minister’s Office; Jannika Ranta, Special Adviser to the Minister of Economic Affairs, tel. +358 295 047 165, Ministry of Employment and the Economy; Marja Koskela, Diplomatic Adviser to the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, tel. +358 295 350 633, Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

English translation of the press release published on 28 August 2015