05 February 2024 - H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta met with Ms. Annika Lindblom, Director for International and EU Affairs, Ministry for Environment and Climate Change, on 24 January 2024 (Wednesday) in Helsinki, Finland.
Ambassador Isleta stated that the Philippines, including local governments, are interested in learning from Finland’s expertise and practices with respect to innovation, and green and smart technologies. Director Lindblom shared how the Finnish government implemented its projects on circular economy, given the thematic nature of the subject.
Both sides discussed areas for cooperation that may be mutually beneficial to both sides, including the sectors of green technology, circular economy, and digitalisation. END.
Photo (from left) Ms. Juulia Suuronen, Specialist, Circular Economy, Ms. Annika Lindblom, Director for International and EU Affairs, Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta, and Consul Pat Lester F. Solosa
05 February 2024 - H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta met with Mr. Kari Herlevi, Project Director for Circular Economy of the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra, on 24 January 2024 (Wednesday) in Helsinki, Finland.
Ambassador Isleta conveyed the Philippines’ interest in working with Finland on the circular economy, particularly in the areas of innovation, green technologies, and digitalisation. For his part, Mr. Herlevi provided an overview of Sitra as well as its current projects.
Both sides also discussed the “World Circular Economic Forum (WCEF), a project that has been organised by Sitra. For the 2024 iteration, the “invitation only” event will be carried out in Brussels on 15-18 April. It gathers representatives from the business sector, representatives from research fields, policy makers, and representatives from NGOs who are interested in the circular economy. END.
05 February 2024 - H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta met with Ms. Nina Kopola, Director General of Business Finland on 24 January 2024 (Wednesday) in Helsinki, Finland.
Director General Kopola conveyed that Finland has long noted the business opportunities in the Philippines and looks forward to strengthening bilateral trade and investment cooperation. Ambassador Isleta shared the changes in the Philippines’ legislation and policies that make it more attractive to foreign investors, in addition to having access to a talented and young workforce.
Both sides discussed activities and projects that are focused on increasing bilateral trade and investments between the Philippines and Finland, including the continued engagements carried out by the Embassy of the Philippines with Finnish government officials and the private sector on political and economic matters; the specific areas of interest of Finnish businesses to invest in; and the support provided for start-ups who wish to test their products in Finland. END.
12 February 2024 - H.E. Ambassador Maria Lumen B. Isleta together with other Head of Missions of ASEAN Embassies in Finland met with Mr. Ville Tavio, Finnish Minister for Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade, on 24 January 2024 (Wednesday) in Helsinki, Finland.
The call on Minister Tavio was organized by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MFA) to allow Embassies to discuss matters of mutual interest with the new Minister, who only assumed his post in June 2023.
Discussions revolved around the ASEAN-EU relations as well as the bilateral relations between Finland and each ASEAN member state. With respect to the Philippines, Minister Tavio expressed his appreciation for the planned reopening of Helsinki PE this year and looked forward to building a stronger strategic partnership in the Philippines, including in working with the Philippines on the implementation of Finland’s Talent Boost Programme. END.
Ambassador Isleta speaks with Minister Tavio
Ambassador Isleta reads out her remarks on ASEAN-EU and the Philippines-Finland relations
