Public Lecture: Current Economic Outlook and Developments in Finland
The state of emergency has been declared in Latvia starting from Monday, October 11, 2021. The event has been canceled due to government-imposed
We are pleased to invite you to the public lecture by Mr. Matti Anttonen, who is Permanent State Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. In this lecture, State Secretary Anttonen will cover the current economic outlook and developments from the point of view of the Government of Finland. After the lecture, there will be plenty of time reserved for conversation with the audience. The public lecture is free and open to the public.
What is the topic of this lecture?
While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to be the top threat on the minds of political leaders, companies and citizens alike when it comes to functioning of our societies and economies, many have already started to look beyond to prepare for an economy that seems to emerge both more climate-friendly and digitally adept. In the European Union, these priorities are highlighted in the Recovery and Resilience Facility through which for example Latvia stands to receive approximately 1.8 billion euros in grants.
The re-emergence of economic activities is vital also for foreign trade. Both Finland and Latvia are economies that base their welfare on this. While the trade figures have not plummeted to the levels mentioned in the first forecasts in the beginning of the pandemic, certain other supply bottlenecks have emerged ranging from personal protective equipment and other medical supplies to semiconductors and natural gas. In order to avoid such developments in future, regional cooperation plays an increasingly important role in strengthening our supply chain security.
This year Finland holds the Presidency of the Nordic Council of Ministers and is also the chair of the Nordic-Baltic Eight (NB8) as well as the foreign and security policy cooperation of the Nordic Countries (N5). In all of these responsibilities, Finland has highlighted further regional integration and sustainability through digitalization, innovations and green economy. Furthermore, societal resilience and supply chain security are other key themes. These priorities fit very well with the Baltic regional priorities that include in the coming years two huge common undertakings – namely Rail Baltica and the synchronization of the Baltic electricity grid with continental Europe.
Presenter:
Mr. Matti Anttonen is Permanent State Secretary of Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland since 1 March 2018. Before that he served as Ambassador of Finland to Sweden. Prior to his Ambassador position in Stockholm he served as Under-Secretary of State for External Economic Affairs at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs from 2013 to 2016.
From 2012 to 2013 Mr. Anttonen was Director General of the Department of External Economic Relations.
Much of Mr. Anttonen’s career has been connected with Russia. From 2008 to 2012 he served as Finland’s Ambassador to Russia. From 1994 to 2002 he worked first as Director for Russia and later as Deputy Director General of the Division for Russia, Eastern Europe and Central Asia at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Anttonen has worked in Finnish diplomatic missions in Washington DC, as Minister and Deputy Head of Mission and at the Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN in Geneva.
Matti Anttonen joined the Ministry in 1986. He holds Master degrees both in economics and in modern history.
Registration is required for this event. Please note, that only individuals with a valid digital Covid-19 recovery or vaccination certificate issued or acknowledged in Latvia can participate in the on-site event. The QR code of the digital certificate will be scanned at the entrance and attendees will be asked to present an ID or passport.