Finland: Investing

FDI in Figures

In the context of the international financial crisis, FDI inflow to Finland decreased dramatically in 2009; since then it has been growing slowly, a trend which is expected to continue into 2010. With regard to domestic FDI stocks, the country is ranked 38th in the world.

The country’s strenghts include: its reputation as having the least amount of corruption in the world, its competitiveness, its strategic position at the center of a dynamic zone formed by Russia, Scandinavia and the Baltic countries, and its economic orientation towards high technology, research and development.

For more information, refer to the Invest in Finland website.

Why You Should Choose to Invest in Finland

Strong Points

The country's strong points are:
- Political stability;
- A strategic geographic location between Scandinavia, Russia and the Northern European expanding markets;
- A multilingual population;
- One of the least corrupt countries in the world;
- The significant investment done in Research and Development expenses (ranked 3^rd in the world);
- An extremely industrialised economy, based mainly on the free market and which showed a per capita return similar to the United Kingdom, France and Germany; and
- One of the most competitive economies in the world, according to WEF Global Competitiveness Report 2007-2008.

Weak Points

Finland's main weak points are:
- A limited domestic market; and
- High taxation rates.

Government Measures to Motivate or Restrict FDI

In the past years, Finland has made considerable progress in eliminating discriminatory regulations against foreign investors. The government's clear intention is to promote the country's integration into the European economic zone. Finlands strategic geographic location, situated between its European Community partners and the newly independent Eastern European states, gives it a definite advantage.

Bilateral Investment Conventions Signed By Finland

Finland is a signatory to 56 conventions.

Procedures Relative to Foreign Investment

Freedom of Establishment

Guaranteed

Acquisition of Holdings

Possible

Obligation to Declare

Certain acquisitions of large Finnish companies may require follow-up clearance from the Ministry of Employment and the Economy in accordance with the act on the control of foreign acquisitions of Finnish companies. The purpose of the clearance is to protect essential national interests.

Competent Organization For the Declaration

Ministry of Employment and the Economy

Requests For Specific Authorizations

A non-EEA person or company operating in Finland must obtain a license or a notification when starting a business in the regulated forms of trade such as banking and insurance sector.

Investment Opportunities

Investment Aid Agency

Finnvera
Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation
The Finnish Innovation Fund
Finnish Investment Promotion Agency
The representations of the Finnish Investment Promotion Agency abroad

Tenders, Projects and Public Procurement

Tenders Info, Tenders in Finland
Ted - Tenders Electronic daily, Business opportunities in EU 27
DgMarket, Tenders Worldwide

Other Useful Resources

Enterprise Finland
The EU website on SMEs and Entrepreneurship

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