The government has restructured and changed
names of a few administrative departments in Finland in the New Year
apparently to make well-suited their tasks in line with global
economic regime change.
The government in announcements said the organizational structure of
the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry was revised focusing the food
and renewable natural resources. The ministry has now three
departments – Food, Natural Resources and Administrative and Planning
– instead of previous four.
The Food Department, composed of the previous departments of
agriculture, food and health, is now being headed by Director-General
HeimoHanhilahti.
The functions of the departments of forestry, fisheries and game; and
most of the tasks of the department of general affairs like water
management and environmental issues are put under the Natural
Resources Department being headed by Director-General JuhaOjala.
Besides the general administrative affairs, the Administration and
Planning Department sees to the steering of the administrative branch
and matters relating to information systems, including spatial data
with Director-General PenttiLähteenoja as its chief.
The trade policy department has been merged with the External Economic
Relations.
The title of the Under-Secretary of State for these affairs also
changes from “Under-Secretary of State – Trade Policy Issues” to
“Under-Secretary of State of External Economic Relations”. No changes
in staffing or division of tasks are made in the department owing to
the change of name, said the announcement adding that the world
economy has changed and Finland’s place in the world economy has also
changed.
