|
|
|
Country facts
| Capital city: |
Helsinki |
| Surface area: |
338,000 sq km |
| Population: |
5.3 million |
| Official language(s): |
Finnish, Swedish |
| Head of State: |
President HE Ms Tarja Halonen |
| Head of Government: |
Prime Minister Mr Matti Vanhanen |
| Australian exports to Finland: |
A$595 million |
| Australian imports from Finland: |
A$978 million |
| Finland's principal export destinations: |
Russian Federation, Sweden, Germany |
| Finland's principal import sources: |
Russian Federation, Germany, Sweden |
(Source: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade - Country economic fact sheet)
|
 |
|
|
Economic climate
Finland is an advanced industrial economy with the metal, engineering and electronics industries accounting for 50 per cent of export revenues, and the forest products industry for 30 per cent. Finland is said to be ‘the most online nation in the world’, with more mobile phones and Internet connections per capita than any other country.
For the latest key economic indicators and statistics, please see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country economic fact sheet.
|
|
|
|
|
The head of State is the President who is elected by a direct national election for a period of six years. Tarja Halonen has been the President since March 2000. The Government must enjoy the confidence of parliament which has 200 members elected every four years.
The semi-autonomous province of Åland Islands occupies a special position because it has the right to draw up laws concerning its own affairs and the right to determine its own budget. The Åland Islands also forms a demilitarised area.
|
|
|
|
Trade relations and statistics
Finland is a member of the United Nations (UN), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
Throughout its history Finland has been caught strategically between the east and the west. The collapse of the Soviet Union and end of the Cold War allowed Finland greater foreign policy flexibility, eventually contributing to its decision to join the EU in 1995. Close cooperation with the EU is now one of Finland's main foreign and trade policy priorities.
Australia and Finland enjoy warm and friendly bilateral relations, boosted by Finland's engagement in the Asia-Pacific region. Multilateral cooperation is an important element of bilateral relations. Finland is a reasonable-sized export destination for Australia.
Please see the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade country economic fact sheet for key trade statistics.
|
|
|
|