A group of Honorary Consuls in Pirkanmaa Region, Central Finland and Kanta-Häme Region joined for a regional summer meeting in Tampere on August 10, hosted by Ms. Kati Tähtinen, Hon. Consul of Spain in Tampere.
The Chief Guest, Mr. Kai Sauer, Under-Secretary of State shared his current overview of Finland’s foreign and security policy, including issues like NATO Membership, technology and international diplomacy. Mr. Johan Grotenfelt, Dean of Consular Corps, Hon. Consul of Nicaragua expressed the world of thanks
Day also included a visit to journalist Rauli Virtanen’s exhibition “From Saigon to Kyiv 1972-2022” in Tampere-talo, hosted by Ms. Paulina Ahokas, Managing Director of Tampere Hall.
It was a wonderful return of physical CC Luncheons after so many cancellations and changed due the pandemic restrictions and we were very happy to have Mr. Björn Wahlroos with our special guest! Mr. Wahlroos, one of the most influential business leaders in the whole Nordic region, shared his interesting views of the competitiveness of Finland in the European perspective.
Over 40 representatives of Consular Corps and Diplomatic Mission gathered together to the CC Luncheon held at Handelsgillet’s premises in Helsinki. Thank you all for participating!
Mr. Johan Grotenfelt, Dean of Consular Corps and Hon. Consul of Nicaragua thanked Mr. Björn Wahlroos for his wonderful speech with a book and calendar of Märket lighthouse, located in the far southwest Baltic Sea region.
The Annual General meeting of Consular Corps in Finland association was held in Helsinki on April 11, 2022. The meeting was opened with a speech by Mr. Pasi Tuominen, Director General of Consular Services at Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Johan Grotenfelt, Dean of Consular Corps, Hon. Consul of Nicaragua, thanked Mr. Pasi Tuominen for his wonderful speech and interactive discussions with the representatives of the annual meeting.
Annual Meeting decided the issues stated in the Articles of Association and also decided the Members of the Board for this year. We are pleased to announce that the Members of Board of Consular Corps in Finland for 2022:
Mr. Johan Grotenfelt Dean of the Consular Corps, Chairman of the Board Honorary Consul, Nicaragua
Mr. Wille Eerola Secretary of the Consular Corps, Member of the Board Honorary Consul General, Pakistan
Mr. Heikki Rautvuori Coordinator of Consular Corps Events, Member of the Board Honorary Consul, Jamaica
Mr. Jan Nygård Treasurer, Member of the Board Honorary Consul, Iceland
Mr. Jukka Luostarinen Member of the Board Honorary Consul General, San Marino
Mr. Jari A. Rastas Member of the Board Honorary Consul General, Poland
Mrs. Kati Tähtinen Member of the Board Honorary Consul, Spain
Mr. Timo Palander Member of the Board Honorary Consul, Namibia
Mr. Olli Pohjanvirta Member of the Board Honorary Consul, Kazakhstan
Consular Corps joined a very informative afternoon event at the headquarters of Finnfund and Finnfund, the Finnish governmental investing arms, in Helsinki.
We want to thank Mr. Jaakko Kangasniemi, CEO of Finnfund and Mrs. Birgitta Nevala, Program Director of Finnpartnership and whole team for your great hospitality and very interesting presentations.
Please note: Mr. Timo Palander, Hon. Consul of Namibia and Mr. Vesa Viitaniemi, Hon. Consul of Tanzania, will contact all the Honorary Consuls representing African continent in Finland for practical talks how to support Finnfund’s and Finnpartnership activities in the future.
Johan Grotenfelt, Dean of Consular Corps and Hon. Consul of Nicaragua, Mr. Vesa Viitaniemi, Hon. Consul of Tanzania and Mr. Timo Palander, Hon. Consul of Namibia, thanked Mr. Jaakko Kangasniemi, CEO of Finnfund and Mrs. Birgit Nevala, Program Director of Finnpartnership.
Consular Corps had a great pleasure to visit the HQ of Neste Corporation, one of the leading companies of sustainability in the world.
Mr. Johan Grotenfelt, Hon. Consul of Nicaragua and Dean of Consular Corps thanked Ms. Minna Aila for the wonderful event at Neste Corporation.
Thank you Ms. Minna Aila, Senior Vice President for interesting presentation and event.
Neste is transforming from a regional oli refiner to becoming a global leader in renewable and circular solutions, creating solutions for combating climate change and accelerating a shift to a circular economy. Neste helps transport and cities, as well as customers in the aviation, polymers and chemicals sectors, to make their business more sustainable. Neste is today Finland’s second largest company measured by market capitalization, and the 4th most sustainable company in the world in the Global 100 -ranking by Corporate Knights.
Finland is world-known of its education and Consular Corps had a chance to dive into the secrets of Finnish education with Ms. Marjaana Sall, Ambassador of Education at Finland’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
She opened the discussion with a very interesting presentation ”Key elements of the Finnish education system and lessons learned on the move to distance learning during the pandemic. What role for digital learning for the future?”, followed by questions and discussions around education, policies, Finnish education export, skills and vocational training.
Big thanks to Ms. Marjaana Sall for such a interesting presentation and talks, thank you all participants!
Consular Corps in Finland was honored to have General Timo Kivinen, Chief of the Finnish Defense Forces as our special guest at this first luncheon in so long time. Forty participants were pleased to listen the speech of General Timo Kivinen and joined for great interactive discussion with the Chief of Finnish Defense Forces.
General Timo Kivinen, Chief of the Finnish Defense Forces.General Timo Kivinen, Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces and Mr. Johan Grotenfelt, Dean of Consular Corps and Hon. Consul of Nicaragua.
TvärminneMr. Johan Grotenfelt (right), Dean of Consular Corps and Hon. Consul of Nicaragua thanked Professor of Baltic Sea Research Alf Norkko for this opportunity to visit Tvärminne station. (Photo by Poppe Taucher, Hon. Consul of Mauritius)Visit to Port of Hanko was hosted by Mr. Anders Ahlvik (right), CEO of Port of Hanko, Honorary Consul of Norway. (Photo by Poppe Taucher, Hon. Consul of Mauritius)
The Board of Consular Corps had a great pleasure to meet with Mr. Sauli Niinistö, President of the Republic of Finland at Kultaranta, president’s summer estate in Southwest Finland. Meeting was part of the annual planning meeting, this year held in Naantali.
Meeting in Naantali included also discussions with Mrs. Laura Leppänen, Mayor of Naantali.
Mr. Sauli Niinistö, President of Finland welcomes the Board of Consular Corps to Kultaranta, the summer residence of the President. Picture: Matti Porre / Tasavallan presidentin kanslia / President’s OfficeFrom left: Mr. Olli Pohjanvirta, Hon. Consul of Kazakhstan, Mr. Jan Nygård, Hon. Consul of Iceland and Mr. Wille Eerola, Hon. Consul General of Pakistan and Secretary of Consular Corps shared the latest development of Consular Corps with President Niinistö. Picture: Matti Porre / Tasavallan presidentin kanslia / President’s OfficeMrs. Marja-Liisa Rosberg, Hon. Consul of Seychelles and Mr. Johan Grotenfelt, Hon. Consul of Nicaragua and Dean of Consular Corps, thanked President Niinistö for the visit.Mr. Johan Grotenfelt, Dean of Consular Corps with Mrs. Laura Leppänen, Mayor of Naantali
