Consulate General of Finland in New York

I’ve praised Hashlist before, but I have to do it again. This morning, CEO Calle U. and CCO Robert Laukas met with Juhani Sirén and me on their way back to Finland from Detroit—and once again proved that with persistence, grit, and a game-changing product, the sky’s the limit. Mark my words: we’ll be hearing about Hashlist again and again!

It's inspiring to see Iria Leino’s story finally come to light! She was a remarkable artist who defied norms and dedicated her life to her craft, leaving behind a treasure trove of work in her SoHo loft. On International Women’s Day, explore Iria's life and artistry with the team behind an upcoming documentary on her extraordinary journey. Read more and register below ⬇️

This afternoon, the team at the Consulate General of Finland in New York had the pleasure of hosting visitors from the Clinton Global Initiative. Thank you Senior Director Mayuri Ghosh, joined by Jana Martins and Victoria Memarsadeghi, for a great discussion on advancing sustainability efforts, with key themes including energy modernization, decarbonization, circular economy, and climate resilience—areas where Finnish expertise can play a leading role. Particular thanks go to Jana Martins who started last month as Senior Manager for Climate Resilience and Sustainability at CGI and made the necessary introductions for us. She’s a great example of a highly successful Finn here in NYC. CGI’s Commitment to Action model presents an opportunity for Finnish companies to engage in impactful, measurable sustainability projects. Companies like Helen and Nokia were highlighted as potential partners, and we explored ways to amplify their work through CGI’s global network. Some key action points: ✅ We will connect Finnish companies with CGI for sustainability commitments! ✅ We will explore Finnish Minister of Environment’s participation in CGI’s Annual Meeting (Sept)! ✅ And we will facilitate collaboration between CGI and Finnish research institutions & climate initiatives! Exciting opportunities ahead for public-private partnerships and deeper engagement! Let’s keep the momentum going. #Sustainability #ClimateAction #USFinlandCollaboration #EnergyTransition #CircularEconomy

Thank you The New York Climate Exchange CEO Stephen Hammer and its Directors Valérie Guillamo, Victoria Cerullo and Shaina Horowitz for a collegial luncheon conversation today! Elina Räsänen, Lotta Jessen and I appreciated your insights. Looking forward to the next steps of our collaboration, including during the inaugural Climate Solutions Summit NYC, focused on research in coastal urban environments, April 23-23, and during the New York Climate Week in September!

🇫🇮 What's the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Finland? Today, we had the pleasure of meeting Teemu Suviala Global Chief Creative Officer at Landor to discuss Finland's country image and branding. Finland is many things: Nordic yet uniquely its own, a leader in technology yet deeply connected to nature, small in size yet making a big impact, but how do we ensure the right stories reach the right audiences in today's fragmented media landscape? It was great to exchange ideas on how we can create a strong, clear, and consistent narrative that effectively highlights Finland's unique strengths on the global stage. And our efforts don't stop at shaping the Finnish national brand; at the Consulate General, we're also dedicated to helping Finnish businesses and creatives in the U.S. get their stories out in meaningful ways. A big thank you to Teemu for the inspiring discussion! We're excited to continue shaping and sharing Finland's story here in New York and across the U.S. 🇺🇸

Thank you for your visit today, Matt Mackowiak of Potomac Strategy Group, LLC; Mike Prado and Emily Weichel of 333 Freight, A Professional Corporation; and Rohan Thapar of Meta —great to reconnect, Rohan! Juhani Sirén and I truly appreciated the opportunity to discuss business and investment opportunities between Texas and Finland, particularly in logistics, tech, and energy. Some key takeaways from our conversation: • The upcoming opening of the Finnish Consulate General in Houston (expected by this summer) and its role in strengthening trade and investment ties. • Texas’s energy sector as a major focus, including discussions on #LNG exports and the potential impact of tariffs on trade with Mexico. • The strategic role of Texas in defense and dual-use markets, especially in Austin. • Investment opportunities for Finnish companies in logistics, transportation, and manufacturing across Texas and the broader U.S. Once the Consulate General in Houston is established, my colleagues there will greatly appreciate your support in connecting them with Texas legislators and U.S. House members. They will also value your commitment to assisting Finnish companies by sharing insights on incentives, logistics, and business locations in Texas. A special thanks for your insights on the visit to Dallas by the Finance Committee of Eduskunta | Riksdagen | Parliament of Finland in early May—a key moment for strengthening bilateral ties. On logistics and transportation, we explored Finnish interest in U.S.-Mexico supply chains and Texas’s border infrastructure, both areas with strong potential for collaboration. I was also particularly interested in the growth of the Texas Stock Exchange | TXSE Group Inc and the expansion of the NYSE operations in Dallas, and Austin’s rise as a key hub for investors and logistics. Throughout our discussion, we all emphasized the importance of early collaboration and relationship-building—critical steps toward even stronger business ties between Texas and Finland!

This afternoon, I had an engaging and productive call with José Ramos, Program Director of the MIT Industrial Liaison Program (ILP). He provided an overview of MIT’s extensive collaboration with international companies, including those in Finland, and highlighted his role in fostering industry partnerships. MIT currently works with over 200 corporate members, including major firms like Apple, Boeing, and Airbus, as well as public-private consortiums in countries such as Wales and Iceland. For an annual membership fee, companies gain access to MIT faculty, its startup ecosystem, and conferences. From Finland, St1 Nordic Oy is a member, and José spoke highly of both the company and its Founder, Mika Anttonen. I was pleased to hear about José’s upcoming visit to Helsinki next month, where he will meet with companies to explore opportunities for further collaboration. He will also continue his long engagement with Aalto University and VTT, both from Espoon kaupunki - Esbo stad - City of Espoo. Espoo took part in the first cohort (2012-2014) of the MIT REAP program, which supports regional entrepreneurship. Finally, we touched on the potential impact of federal research funding cuts on MIT and the growing importance of corporate sponsorships to sustain research in a number of key areas. Overall, the conversation reinforced MIT’s strong interest in deepening ties with Finnish institutions and corporations, particularly in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and industry-driven research.

Following a panel discussion on international arbitration and Finland, the Consul General’s residence welcomed guests for a networking reception hosted by Ambassador Jarmo Sareva. The panel, organized by The Finland Arbitration Institute (FAI), Holland & Knight LLP, Fordham University School of Law, and the Finnish American Chamber of Commerce - New York featured moderator Sean Sheely and speakers Heidi Merikalla-Teir, Dana MacGrath, Helen Lehto, and Arantxa Cuadrado Pérez-Broseta, who explored how #arbitration can be more cost-effective and client-focused. Thank you to everyone who joined the evening reception, it was a pleasure to keep the conversation going and connect with many engaged professionals! 🇫🇮🇺🇸

Yesterday, the Consulate General of Denmark in New York together with our Nordic and Baltic colleagues hosted a panel discussion diving into the global implications of the Russian war against Ukraine and the path towards peace 🇺🇦 The war has entered its fourth year, and maintaining focus is crucial. Dr. Kimberly Kagan Founder and President of the Institute for the Study of War made this clear in her keynote speech. “Ukraine needs a local security guarantee. It needs long-term military assistance. And it needs that long-term assistance fast”. She stressed the importance of European leadership in the support of Ukraine and in ensuring a more secure world. “Every country right now needs to do everything that it can do and it needs to do it fast. Break the glass; this is an emergency”, she said. Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Lithuania Gabija Grigaite Daugirde, Ph.D., State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Sweden Dag Hartelius and State Secretary of Foreign Affairs in Norway Eivind Vad Petersson. They all stressed the unwavering Nordic and Baltic commitment to stand with Ukraine. This was in line with the statements made by the Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen at the summit in Kyiv earlier this week where a dozen leaders from Europe and Canada pledged continuous support. Additional valuable perspectives were provided by Professor of International Relations and Contemporary History at the Institutt for forsvarsstudier/Norwegian Institute for Defence Studies Dr. Katarzyna Zysk. Thank you to our Nordic and Baltic colleagues for the collaboration on this important project. 📸: Consulate General of Sweden in New York Consulate General of the Republic of Lithuania in New York | Consulate General of Sweden in New York | Royal Norwegian Consulate General in New York | Consulate General of Finland in New York

Thank you, Veijo Hytti and Markus Halonen of Keto Software, for stopping by this afternoon to meet with Juhani Sirén and me. I’m a strong believer in the potential of Finnish enterprise #SaaS companies in the U.S. market, and Keto Software is a prime example. Its AI-driven Strategic Portfolio Management platform helps organizations align R&D and innovation investments with strategic goals, delivering real-time visibility into portfolio performance. With a highly flexible, no-code design, Keto stands out for its agility, efficiency, and data-driven decision-making—making it a compelling choice for industries looking to optimize their investments. As I mentioned in our discussion, Keto has a clear value proposition: helping companies stop throwing good money after bad by moving away from legacy providers in favor of a cost-efficient, user-friendly alternative. Looking forward to a deeper dive into Keto’s U.S. plans this Thursday!