Finland Times

 

Prime Minister Juha Sipilä on Thursday appointed a new Steering Group for the Team Finland network, with Risto Siilasmaa as Vice Chairman, said a press release of the Government Communications Department issued on Thursday.

 

Prime Minister Sipilä himself serves as Chairman of the Steering Group. Risto Siilasmaa is currently Chairman of the Board of Nokia Corporation and F-Secure Corporation.

 

The Team Finland network is developing its domestic services with an aim to simplify companies’ access to the services of the network and to improve the smoothness of service, thanks to the new service model, network organisations that 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, said the release.

 

“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 stated.

 

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.

 

“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 needs not know the division of tasks between public organisations in order to obtain services,” Minister of Economic Affairs Olli Rehn said.  

 

Instead of wasting time with complex administrative structures, attention is directed towards conquering new markets and building the prerequisites for new growth, the minister added.   

Service is boosted by centralising customer service and deepening organisations’ cooperation in managing accounts.

 

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.  

 

“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 stressed. 

 

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, according to the release.

 

The Team Finland network brings together all of the services offered by state-funded actors that work to promote the internationalization 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 internationalization services make up the core of the network.