The new strategy of the Team Finland network creates a strong foundation for providing assistance to Finnish companies in Finland and in their target markets. The key theme of the strategy and its implementation is to generate added value to Finnish companies that seek to increase their exports and grow globally.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and its more than 80 missions abroad offer assistance to Finnish companies pursuing international growth. The new strategy of the Team Finland network provides clear objectives and a direction for the entire network’s operations.

The Executive Group of Team Finland adopted the new strategy for the Team Finland network at the end of October. The strategy focused on practical objectives and operating policies. It also identified new indicators for cooperation within the Team Finland network and for its further development.

For the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the new strategy involves building on the development work carried out over the past three years. The strategy links the cooperation between the Ministry and Business Finland’s target markets more closely to the network’s activities in Finland.

“The Team Finland network and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs as a core actor supports the growth and internationalisation of Finnish companies by matching the demand in target markets with products and services Finnish companies can offer. The role of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Team Finland network is focused on activities in the target market that help Finnish companies connect with demand-driven ecosystems,” Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade Ville Skinnari comments.

The strategy implementation highlights the role of the joint CRM system of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Business Finland, Finnvera and the Ely Centres that was introduced this year. Access to real-time data within the Team Finland network improves the efficiency of service provision to companies by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and its missions. Similarly, customer feedback will play an increasingly important role in steering the network’s activities.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Finnish missions represent one of the core actors in the Team Finland network, together with the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, Business Finland, Finnvera and the Ely Centres/TE Offices. The network also includes Team Finland partner organisations that provide export and internationalisation services in Finland and in the target countries.

The Team Finland network facilitates exports and the international growth of SMEs in particular by offering a streamlined service path for internationalisation-oriented businesses from the local to the global environment. It also promotes Finland internationally as a hub of high-level expertise, and attracts foreign experts and investors to Finland. The Team Finland services provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs to Finnish companies include:
•- Building international contact networks
•- Providing information on target markets, operating environment and market opportunities
•- Advice on trade policy and barriers to trade
•- Effective use of development financing instruments.

Team Finland activities are part of the export and international growth programme included in Prime Minister Rinne’s Government Programme.