|
Tue, 08 Jul, 2014 12:05:24 AM FTimes-STT Report, July 8  Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Helsinki. Photo Lehtikuva. The government plans to lower the number of Finnish diplomatic missions abroad following a slide in the number of travellers to the country, according to a report run by the Finnish language weekly magazine Kuvalehti.
The report also said Director of Finance at Ministry for Foreign Affairs Risto Hakoila criticised the intention to close Finnish embassies and missions.
According to Hakoila, the closure would be economically unprofitable for the export-driven economy.
Yle meanwhile reported that according to an assessment made at the beginning of this year, the number of visas issued to Russians may drop by as much as a fifth.
The revenue from Russian tourist visas earns the treasury about 50 million euros.
The STT report, however, did not say how many foreign missions are on the wish list of reduction and from where and when the government would go forward with the plan.
Earlier, the government announced to close down some foreign missions and open some consulates in different parts of the globe over the next five years.
That time the government said the restructuring process was planned following the challenges of the changing world and shortage of fund.
Presently, Finland has 92 diplomatic missions, including embassies and consulates, in different countries across the world.
More News
|
|
Finland Times
| Friday, 26 April, 2024 |
|
Copyright © 2024 All rights reserved
|
||||
