Embassy of Finland in Manila’s Post

"May the Beauty of the Planet be passed on to Future Generations!" says Chingyu Yao! If you are a VLR City you can start a conversation in 30 seconds with any other City about "The Future You Want for the World"; this is the magic of speaking and breathing SDGs. New Taipei published its first VLR in October 2019, and the second in 2021; they have localized the SDG logo for their city with the orange colour (Goal 11) in the centre, and the Chinese character for People surrounding it, representing the People-first spirit. Why are Taipei and Taiwan thriving? How are their VLR and VNR contributing to this success? These were my research questions, and I thank Chingyu Yao, Director General, Secretariat of New Taipei City Government and her team @Shih-Chin Lee, @Yi-Pin Peng, and Pei-Hsuan Hsu for sharing their vision on how New Taipei created their strategy that has generated the wave for another 22 counties and municipalities to publish their VLRs in Taiwan. "The promoting of sustainable development is a cross-sector and cross-departmental project that requires central and local governments to work together, public-private engagement, and cooperation as well." Taiwan VNR, like Japan, gives a clear orientation to localize SDGs as well as to engage the Private Sector in this quest. VLRs are probably the best and most efficient way to implement and achieve the SDGs, and it is simply wonderful to be part of this movement. #Taipei; #NewTaipei; #SDGs; #VNR; #VLR;

Happy Nordic Day! 🇫🇮 🇸🇪 🇳🇴 🇩🇰 🇮🇸 🇬🇱 🇫🇴 🇦🇽 Today, as we are celebrating our diverse and unique region, we want to focus on our common values. The values trust, equality, sustainability, innovation, and openness show a common way of thinking in the Nordic region. These values are not exclusive to the Nordics, yet they collectively epitomize what we view as our common values. But one does not need to reside in the Nordic region to be able to experience the Nordic values. The Nordic values are not only a part of the way we live and see the world, but they are also a constant reminder of the work we have left. While no corner of the world has achieved absolute equality, a fully open society, or complete sustainability, we remain committed to these ideals. The Nordic values are a call to action— they are a shared vision that transcends borders and cultures. By upholding these values and working together, we can forge a more tolerant, sustainable, and interconnected world. #nordicday #nordic #scandinavia

Our Ambassador Ardi Stoios-Braken and Australian Embassy in the Netherlands' Ambassador Greg French yesterday evening facilitated the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Australian company ASPIRE's CEO Cameron McKenzie and Dutch company Excess Materials Exchange (EME)'s CEO Christian van Maaren. This partnership marks a significant step forward in our shared commitment to advancing circular economy practices and fostering sustainable innovations. Aspire and EME both run a digital platform that facilitates the exchange of materials and resources between companies. Through this partnership, they bring together their expertise in reuse of materials and products and resource efficiency to develop groundbreaking solutions that will benefit both our nations and the planet. This collaboration highlights the potential for international cooperation between the Netherlands and Australia. 🇳🇱🇦🇺 Ambassador Ardi Stoios-Braken expressed her enthusiasm for this partnership, stating,“As we continue to enrich the ties between the Netherlands and Australia, partnerships like this are crucial. They showcase how our shared values and complementary skills can lead to innovative solutions that have an economic outcome and the same time address environmental challenges.   I believe the collaboration between Aspire and EME will set a powerful example for other companies to follow in adopting sustainable practices. This MoU demonstrates how businesses can work together towards a more circular economy that will bring great rewards to us and our planet.” We look forward to seeing the positive outcomes of this partnership and the innovative solutions that will emerge from this collaboration. Join us in celebrating this significant achievement and stay tuned for more updates on the progress of this exciting partnership. Please find the media release in the comments. #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #Aspire #EME #NLinAUS #MoU

📺 [𝐄𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬] 𝐕𝐓𝐕4: "𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐚𝐧 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞" NOTE: Vietnamese-language content. Several EuroCham representatives provided insights into Vietnam's green growth and sustainability efforts. Here are the highlights, in order of their appearance: ✔️ At 6:02, Gabor Fluit, Asia CEO of EuroCham Corporate Partner De Heus, was optimistic about Vietnam's green transformation, noting strong European interest in green investments. ✔️ At 6:16, Stuart Livesey, Co-Chair of our Green Growth Sector Committee, stressed the importance for Vietnamese companies to meet ESG criteria to boost market engagement and attract foreign investment. ✔️ At 9:48, Michel Cassagnes, Chairman of our Construction Sector Committee, emphasized the need for policies that support green architecture and eco-friendly materials to draw FDI. ✔️ At 14:00, Thue Quist Thomasen, EuroCham Board Member, speaking on behalf of EuroCham Corporate Partner Decision Lab, highlighted growing awareness of the environmental impact of plastics and the need for sustainable tourism strategies. ✔️ At 14:43, Mario Mendis, Chairman of our Tourism & Hospitality Sector Committee, pointed to Boracay Island in the Philippines as a model for sustainable tourism that Vietnam could replicate. 👉 To see the coverage, click here: https://lnkd.in/g4NmqA9a JOURNALISTS: Interested in expert perspectives on improving Vietnam's business climate? EuroCham Vietnam offers actionable solutions and unique insights. For interviews, contact Senior Communication Officer Dan Martin at dan.martin@eurochamvn.org. #EuroCham #Vietnam #IntheNews

🌍 Do you know which country has been the fourth on our Europe-wide mission.... ....to "Increase Digitalisation Awareness and Readiness of EU Communities? 🇱🇹 LITHUANIA! Today we participated in another enriching conference in the Parliament building (Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania). This key initiative, in collaboration with the European Commission and Žaliosios savivaldybės / Green Municipalities , brought together community leaders and experts to share insights on the development of comprehensive digital strategies aligned with the Digital Decade. 🎯 The goal? Empowering cities and communities to achieve their Green Deal and digitalisation objectives. 🚀💡 🔑 Notable Speakers Included: Andrius Bagdonas – Chair of the Parliamentary Group “Green Municipalities 2030” Audrius Klišonis – President of the Lithuanian Association of Municipalities (acting) and Mayor of Plungė District Municipality Ignacio Garcia Vega – Chief Innovation Officer, Serendipity Gabriela Ruseva - Project Coordinator, Living-in.eu | EuroCities Teresė Škutaitė – Head of GreenTech Hub, Lithuanian Innovation Agency Anton Nikitin – Sustainability Lead, Vilnius Municipality Arturas Jakubavicius - Lithuanian Innovation Centre Visvaldas Varžinskas - Kaunas university of Technology Vadimas Ivanovas - Head of State Data Governance Information System Division at Statistics Lithuania And many more leaders in sustainability and digital transformation! This event is part of a European-wide effort to support the digital transformation journey of local communities, designed for city representatives and decision-makers at the forefront of digital innovation. 🌱🔗 📍 Fun Fact: While Valencia holds the title of European Green Capital for 2024, Vilnius is set to become the European Green Capital in 2025! 🌿 This reinforces Lithuania’s commitment to sustainability, and today’s discussions further accelerated its digital and green transitions. Exciting times ahead for Europe's green and digital future! 🌍 #GreenDeal #DigitalTransformation #EUCommunities #VilniusGreenCapital2025 #Lithuania #Sustainability #Serendipity #GreenMunicipalities #LocalDigitalTwins

🌍 Collaborating for a Sustainable Future 🌱 The UN Global Compact Network Caribbean values collaboration with business associations as such relationships can significantly enhance efforts in promoting corporate sustainability. Executive Director of the Network Caribbean Kyana B. had the pleasure of meeting with the Jamaica Manufacturers and Exporters Association. In today's rapidly changing world, companies face immense pressure to adopt sustainable practices. However, these challenges can be transformed into opportunities through strategic partnerships. By joining forces with local business associations, we can: 1.Share Best Practices: Collaborating allows us to pool our knowledge and experiences, creating a rich resource for innovative sustainability strategies. 2.Amplify Our Impact: Together, we can launch initiatives that reach a broader audience, driving greater change within our communities and industries. 3. Engage Stakeholders: Collaborating with various stakeholders—including consumers, suppliers, and local governments—ensures that our sustainability efforts are inclusive and impactful. 4. Foster Innovation: Partnerships often lead to innovative solutions that might not emerge in isolation. By collaborating, we can explore new technologies and approaches to sustainability. Let’s embrace the power of collaboration to build a more sustainable future for our businesses and the planet. Together, we can lead the way in corporate sustainability and inspire others to join us on this crucial journey. Kamesha Turner Blake Johnoi Elliston #Sustainability #CorporateResponsibility #Collaboration #BusinessAssociations

🌍 Enhancing EU-Japan Collaboration on Human Rights and Environmental Integrity The HORIZON team is pleased to share insights from our recent participation at an enlightening workshop hosted by the European Business Council on April 9th, 2024 in Tokyo.  "Promoting Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence Together". This event marked a significant step in strengthening ties between the EU and Japan, focusing on shared commitments to mitigate all major sustainability risks including human rights and environment issues. Key Takeaways: Latest Updates: The session highlighted crucial updates in the OECD Guidelines including new standards for addressing climate change, biodiversity conservation, and risk based due diligence across business operations and supply chain.  Future Projects: The session touched upon the "RBC for Green, Digital, and Responsible Supply Chain in Asia" project which aims to integrate sustainable and ethical practices into business operations across Asia particularly, in Southeast Asia. Joint Efforts: The session also explored how enhanced cooperation under the updated OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises can drive responsible business practices. This workshop underscored the urgent need for joint efforts in navigating the complex regulatory environments in Asian markets and emphasized mutual commitment to sustainable development. Full text will be available on our website soon! keep update yourself✨ #EUJapan #Sustainability #ASIA  #RBC #HumanRights #EnvironmentalIntegrity #BusinessEthics #CorporateResponsibility #HORIZON #OECD AALTO INTERNATIONAL I Global Business Architects OECD - OCDE European Business Council in Japan (EBC)

KEA participated today in the online conference “Environmental Sustainability in the Creative Europe Programme - Challenges and good practices”, organised by the Europa Criativa MEDIA Portugal and the Culture Desk. The event focused on the environmental sustainability measures within the Creative Europe Programme and their impact on cultural and creative sectors. Key discussions included challenges and good practices in organising sustainable events, as well as strategies for incorporating green principles into creative processes. Funded projects provided concrete examples of how sustainability can be effectively integrated into the sector. As the EU prepares for its next funding cycle, KEA remains engaged in supporting the Greening of Creative Europe by contributing to sustainable innovation in culture and creativity. #Sustainability #CreativeEurope #CulturalInnovation #EnvironmentalSustainability

Happy Nordic Day! Today, as we are celebrating our diverse and unique region, we want to focus on our common values. The values trust, equality, sustainability, innovation, and openness show a common way of thinking in the Nordic region. These values are not exclusive to the Nordics, yet they collectively epitomize what we view as our common values. But one does not need to reside in the Nordic region to be able to experience the Nordic values. There are thousands of stories out in the world that are rooted in these exact values.   The Nordic values are not only a part of the way we live and see the world, but they are also a constant reminder of the work we have left. While no corner of the world has achieved absolute equality, a fully open society, or complete sustainability, we remain committed to these ideals. The Nordic values are a call to action— they are a shared vision that transcends borders and cultures. By upholding these values and working together, we can forge a more tolerant, sustainable, and interconnected world. #TheNordics #nordiccooperation 

European Week of Regions and Cities brought Northern Sparsely Populated Areas, NSPA, together along with Highlands and Borders of Scotland. As Stefano Barbieri stated, NSPA share geographic isolation and demographic characteristics. OECD territorial Review of NSPA also highligted missing out of the agglomeration benefits that cities enjoy. These benefits are shared infrastucture, larger labout markets and knowledge exchanges. Demographic challenges such as outmigration, ageing, and short of skilled labour, are intensified in our area. Collaboration ACROSS BORDERS is essential for clean transition, digitalisation and skills.