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Finland |
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| Membership in EU: | 1995 |
| Political system: | Republic |
| Capital city: | Helsinki |
| Total area: | 338 000 km² |
| Currency: | Euro (EUR) |
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Statistical Office
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Chamber of Commerce and Industry
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Entrepreneurship in the Country
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Business Directories
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Local Communities
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Business Communication
Finns are transactional and do not need long-standing personal relationships in order to conduct business.
The basic business style is formal - i.e. there is relatively little small talk and Finns prefer people to speak succinctly and to focus purely on business.
Finns do not require face-to-face contact and, in fact, are quite comfortable using e-mail.
Finns are excellent time managers, who prefer to organize their workday in order to accomplish as much as possible.
Finns are interested in long-term relationships.
Relationship building often takes place outside the office: in a restaurant or the sauna.
Try not to turn down an invitation to use the sauna, as it is an entrenched part of the Finnish culture.
Finns place a great value on speaking plainly and openly.
What someone says is accepted at face value and this is a culture where "a man's word is his bond" and will be treated as seriously as a written contract, so verbal commitments are considered agreements.
Finns are direct communicators. Expect your colleagues to tell you what they think, rather than what you want to hear.
Professional differences are not viewed as personal attacks.
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Business Meetings
Appointments are necessary and should be made in advance by telephone, e-mail, or fax.
It is extremely difficult to meet with people without a formal appointment.
Do not schedule meetings between June and August, as many Finns take vacation during the summer.
You should arrive at meetings on time or slightly early.
Telephone immediately, if you will be detained more than 5 minutes. Being punctual is a sign of respect and efficiency.
Expect a bare minimum of small talk, if any, before getting into the business discussion.
Send an agenda before the meeting as well as the biographies of your team.
Meetings begin and end on time.
Avoid hype, exaggerated claims or bells and whistles in your presentation.
Finns seldom ask questions. The presenter is expected to make his/her case with sufficient detail, that their Finnish colleagues do not need to ask questions.
There is no taboo on humour in the business environment.
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President
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Government
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Prime Minister
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Ministries
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Constitutional Court
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Legislation
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Geographical Characteristics
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Finland is a land of forests and lakes, and it is famous for its unspoiled nature. In the far north the sun does not set for almost 10 weeks – a period of midnight sun, and it does not rise at all, for about 8 weeks during winter.
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Languages
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Finnish; also Swedish and English.
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Short History
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Finland was under Swedish reign for 7 centuries (from the 12th century until 1809), so nearly 6% of population is Swedish-speaking. It gained its independence following the Russian revolution in 1917 and it became a republic.
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Time Zone
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International Dialing Code
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Average Temperatures
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July 17 0C, January -6 0C.
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Opening Hours of Banks
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Monday - Friday: 9.00am – 4.15pm.
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Opening Hours of Post-Offices
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Monday – Friday: 8.00am – 5.00pm.
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Opening Hours of Shops
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Legally permitted opening hours:
Monday – Friday: 7.00/9.00am – 8.00/9.00pm.
Saturday: 9.00am – 3.00/6.00pm.
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Credit Cards
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The following credit cards are accepted in Finland: Visa, MasterCard–EuroCard, American Express, Diner's Club, Eurocard, Access. They are accepted in numerous hotels, restaurants and shops. Almost all petrol stations will accept credit cards.
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Foreign Currency Exchange
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Apart from the banks, foreign currency can be also exchanged in exchange offices, hotel receptions, tourist agencies, petrol stations and larger department stores.
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Mobile Telecommunications
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The country is almost entirely covered by mobile telephony signal, since the operators have concluded contracts with larger European and world operators. Mobile phones in the country are designed to function within the network of frequency bands 900 MHZ and 1800 MHZ. You can host in the following mobile networks: Aland, DNA OY, Elisa, TeliaSonera.
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Anti Smoking Law
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The Law that bans smoking in bars, restaurants and night clubs was passed in Finland on June 1st 2007. Smoking is thus permitted only in specially designated areas, on the bus stops and underground stations.
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Emergency Telephone Numbers
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Population of the State
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Population of the Capital
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Demographics
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Religion
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