Finnish American Chamber of Commerce - New York

⭐️ Nordic Young Professionals Happy Hour at Our Office! ⭐️ We had the pleasure of organizing and co-hosting a Nordic Young Professionals Happy Hour at our office! It was fantastic meeting so many new people and exchanging experiences with professionals and students from across the Nordic community. A big thank you to our sponsors, The Long Drink Company and Valio for making the event even more special! 🥤🧀 The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce - New York The Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Icelandic-American Chamber of Commerce Finlandia Foundation New York Metropolitan Chapter

We are Co-hosting a Nordic Young Professionals Networking event at our office! For more details, check out the link below. Looking forward to seeing you there! The Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce - New York The Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce, Inc. Icelandic-American Chamber of Commerce Finlandia Foundation New York Metropolitan Chapter https://lnkd.in/gF6gzj2k

Last week, we hosted this fall’s Nordic Innovation and Sustainability Forum, focusing on maritime sustainability and evolving trends in deep-sea shipping. The event was a collaboration between NorCham Washington DC and Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce-Washington D.C. (SACC-DC) at the Embassy of Sweden in USA. Keynotes and two panel discussions were held with separate moderators. Kati Kaivonen was proud to represent FACC along with our Executive Member company, Neste. A huge thank you to the remarkable speakers from DNV and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), panelists, moderators, and the Swedish Embassy for spectacularly hosting the event. Special appreciation goes to Jordan Haverly for representing Neste and Samuli Hanninen for representing ABB, alongside fellow panelists Kathy Metcalf from the Chamber of Shipping of America, Åsa Leander from Volvo Penta, Josh Kleckner from Alfa Laval, and Erik Haaland from Equinor. Dr. Johannes Urpelainen moderated the first panel discussion, while Ulla Lainio led the second. A sincere thank you to everyone who attended the event. And a final show of gratitude to all the sponsors and partner companies: ABB, Alfa Laval, Equinor, Neste, Volvo Penta, DNV and Innovation Norway.

This week, we had the great opportunity to attend the UN Global Compact Network Finland, Pacte mondial de l’ONU - Réseau France and UN Global Compact Network Sweden event, "Digitalization for Good & ESG Reporting Standards - Bridging the Gap for a Sustainable Future," hosted at Deloitte Headquarters. It was an insightful evening filled with thought-provoking speeches, fireside chats, and discussions on two of today's most critical topics: digital transformation and sustainability, along with the challenges of ESG reporting. We heard from distinguished speakers, including Jarmo Sareva, Ville Tavio, and Henri (Henkka) Hyppönen from Younite-AI who delivered a keynote on embracing our role as forerunners in the positive use of AI, despite concerns over potential misuse. His examples showcased AI’s speed and creativity, highlighting its vast potential. Representatives from innovative companies such as Nokia, ICEYE, Adapteo Group, Schneider Electric, CapMan and Essity shared valuable insights. Lari Hintsanen CEO of Deloitte Finland, also provided perspectives on how AI can drive new sustainable growth solutions with human creativity and empowerment. Jarmo Sareva skillfully moderated engaging discussions, including dialogues between: - Anthony D’Arcy & Paula Pättikangas - Andy Read, Lina K Wiles & Timothée Macé Dubois - Pia Kåll & Anna Brodowsky The second half of the evening, "Bridging the Atlantic Gap: Deep Dive into ESG Reporting Standards and CoP Digital Platform," started with an insightful introduction by Susan Stawicki Head of Reporting, UN Global Compact. A panel discussion moderated by Nils Pedersen featured panelists from Amadeus, Ahlstrom, EDF and Veolia. They emphasized the critical need for reliable and comparable data through ESG reporting to measure and drive sustainability progress. The importance of sustainability for all companies was explored in-depth. One key takeaway from the evening was that while reporting may not be the most exciting task, it is essential for gathering the data companies need to make informed, impactful decisions. However, companies should not become resource-constrained due to excessive reporting regulations and be able to focus more on creating and improving sustainable solutions. Another important point raised was that sustainability should be integrated into the CFO's role and viewed holistically across the organization, rather than being confined to a separate department.

Last weekend, we had the incredible opportunity to co-host a reception during the UNGA week at Scandinavia House in collaboration with UN Global Compact Network Finland. The event was filled with inspiring conversations and remarkable people, including the presence of Tarja Halonen, the former President of Finland. Speeches at the reception were held by Ibon Zugasti, Lotta Tähtinen, Lari Hintsanen, Marja Innanen and Tarja Halonen. It was a memorable evening celebrating global collaboration and fostering connections between Finland and the world.

News from our member SAS - Scandinavian Airlines

Here is another throwback from Finnfest. Jarmo Sareva held an insightful presentation on U.S. Trade and Economy with the following key points Transition of the U.S. as Finland’s Most Important Trade Partner: Economic Significance: Jarmo Sareva highlighted how the U.S. has become Finland’s leading trading partner, surpassing other traditional markets in trade volume and economic significance. He discussed the factors contributing to this shift, including robust bilateral trade agreements and increasing demand for Finnish products in the U.S. market. Letters of Understanding (LOUs) with U.S. States: State-Level Collaborations: Sareva elaborated on the LOUs Finland has signed with specific U.S. states, such as Minnesota, to enhance economic cooperation in areas like renewable energy, technology, education, and healthcare. These agreements have fostered more direct collaboration and opened up new business opportunities. Increasing Funding Opportunities for Finnish Businesses: Access to Investment: The closer economic ties with the U.S. have resulted in increased funding opportunities for Finnish companies. Finnish businesses now have better access to investment, grants, and collaborative projects, driving growth and innovation.

We had the privilege of participating in the insightful talk, "The European & Finnish Economy: Pursuing Growth in the Shadow of Geopolitical Challenges," presented by Olli Rehn. The discussion covered recent political events in Europe, the U.S. presidential race, the European economy and monetary policy, as well as the Finnish economy. This event was hosted by EACC New York [European American Chamber of Commerce] and the Consulate General of Finland in New York Thank you for having us and for fostering such valuable discussions on these critical topics.

Here is a little throwback from FinnFest. Pekka Haavisto held the keynote “Finland’s Role in the Changing World – How Can a Small Country Build Peace in a Time of Conflict?”, where Pekka shared his extensive experiences in international peace-building efforts and about Finland joining NATO and the process. He highlighted examples of successful peace missions and the importance of pursuing diplomatic channels. Later, in a peer discussion on stage titled “Carbon Neutral Future of Finland and Minnesota,” Pekka discussed Finland’s goals for achieving carbon neutrality, including innovative policies and collaboration with international partners.

Excited to share our exceptional experience at FinnFest USA in Duluth, Minnesota! Our team had the privilege of connecting with inspiring individuals from both Finnish government officials and Finnish/American business communities, expanding our network, and learning from diverse perspectives. The FinnFest USA gala on Saturday was a standout highlight, celebrating Finnish culture and heritage. Congratulations to our member company, Uponor, for winning the FinnFest Business Award! The Tori market space featured impressive displays and exhibits showcasing Finnish craftsmanship, including Ponsse 's machines and Marimekko's archive fashion show hosted by the Finlandia Foundation National. We connected with several Finnish and U.S. businesses, opening doors to potential collaborations and exciting new opportunities. We deeply value cultural exchange! KIITOS to everyone who made this event unforgettable! 🇫🇮🇺🇸 #FACC #yhdessa #networking