The Canada Finland Chamber of Commerce (CFCC) was honoured to be invited by Finland’s Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, Mr. Ville Tavio, and his delegation to a lunch meeting during their visit to Toronto.
The meeting was also attended by Ms. Hanna-Leena Korteniemi, Ambassador of Finland to Canada, whose presence added great value to the discussions and underscored Finland’s strong commitment to working closely with partners in Canada. The Finnish Canadian Chamber of Commerce of Western Canada was also represented at the meeting by Mr. Tom Nyberg.
The discussion brought together representatives from the Chamber and the Finnish delegation to explore shared priorities for strengthening economic and community connections between Canada and Finland.
Representing the CFCC were Mrs. Marika Arovuo (President), Mr. Jacques S. Darche, Mr. Mikael Silegren (Vice-President), and Mr. Aditya Poudyal, who engaged in a constructive dialogue with Minister Tavio and his team.
Topics included the growing presence of Finnish companies in Canada, the implications of the CETA agreement, and inter-provincial trade barriers. Both sides exchanged views on emerging opportunities for European businesses in light of evolving tariff conditions.
Minister Tavio expressed his appreciation for the work of the Chamber and the broader Finnish community in Canada. He emphasized the importance of continued cooperation to strengthen Finland’s commercial footprint in Canada. The Minister also highlighted the newly launched Finnair direct flight route between Helsinki and Toronto, expected to further facilitate business and cultural exchange between the two nations.
In addition, Minister Tavio emphasized Finland’s strengths in quantum technology, the forest industry, and the defence sector, noting opportunities for deepened collaboration with Canadian partners. He also commended the success of Lumon, a CFCC member company, for its achievements in the Canadian market.
The discussion further addressed how CFCC and Team Finland can enhance cooperation to improve support for Finnish companies entering the Canadian market. The Chamber emphasized the importance of establishing a unified front door for Finnish businesses, as well as developing a light data-sharing MoU and shared KPIs. Both parties agreed to strengthen institutional cooperation through cross-representation in board meetings and the appointment of designated contact persons within each organization.
Ambassador Korteniemi highlighted the importance of forming a unified umbrella organization to represent Finnish entities and communities across Canada, reinforcing Finland’s strategic presence in the country.
The meeting concluded with a reaffirmation of the Chamber’s commitment to supporting Finland’s interests in Canada. As a volunteer-driven, non-profit organization, the Chamber’s mission is to strengthen Finland’s image and influence in Canada and to serve as a trusted partner for Finnish institutions and businesses.
The Chamber’s board members expressed their gratitude to Minister Tavio and his delegation for their time and engagement, noting that CFCC looks forward to continued close cooperation with Finnish stakeholders.
Please find our events photography and videography policy here.