24 October 2023 - H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta met Hon. Mr. Tomas Häyry, Mayor of Vaasa in the Ostrobothnia region of Finland on 23 October 2023.

During the meeting, Ambassador Isleta provided a brief overview of the activities of the Embassy of the Philippines in Finland, including its visit to Vamia School in Vaasa. Both sides agreed to explore greater cooperation in various areas including education, green and smart solutions, energy and sustainable development.

Vaasa is a city on the west coast of Finland. The city is bilingual with 66.2% of the population speaking Finnish as their first language and 23.4% speaking Swedish. The surrounding Ostrobothnian municipalities (such as Korsholm and Malax) have a clear Swedish-speaking majority, which is why the Swedish language maintains a strong position in the city, making it the most significant cultural center for Swedish-Finns.

Also present during the meeting were Deputy Chief of Mission and Consul General Gines Jaime Ricardo D. Gallaga and Labour Attaché Amuerfina Reyes. END.