Heads of missions meet in Helsinki

Helsinki, 16 August 2023

Heads of Finland’s missions abroad and foreign policy leaders will meet again at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission in Helsinki on 21–23 August.

The meeting will discuss the impact which the new multipolar world order and the transformation of geoeconomics and technology will have on the position of Finland and Europe. The conditions under which the EU can pursue its global role are also on the agenda. In addition, Finland’s recent membership in NATO will provide a new framework for the discussions.

“In a difficult global situation, Finland’s network of diplomatic missions is a particularly important resource. It is great that Finland’s ambassadors abroad can meet each other again, and together we can discuss the international situation and how Finland’s interests can best be promoted abroad,” says State Secretary Jukka Salovaara.

During the meeting, the ambassadors will be addressed by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö, Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio, Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen and Minister of Education Anna-Maja Henriksson, who is responsible for Nordic cooperation.

State Secretary Jukka Salovaara will chair the meeting.

Follow the meeting on the Foreign Ministry’s channels

The public speeches will be webcast on the Foreign Ministry’s website(in Finnish)  and YouTube channel. Video recordings and speeches will be posted after the meeting on the Foreign Ministry’s website.

The Foreign Ministry will post meeting updates using the hashtag #SLSK2023 on social media channels.

Photographs of the meeting will be available on the Foreign Ministry’s Flickr account.

Public speeches at the Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission

Monday, 21 August

9.00–9.15

Opening address by State Secretary Jukka Salovaara

9.15–9.45

Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen

11.00–11.30

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Ville Tavio

14.30–15.00

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo

Tuesday, 22 August    

10.00–10.15

Address by President of the Republic Sauli Niinistö

13.00–13.20

Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen

Wednesday, 23 August

9.30–9.45

Minister of Education Anna-Maja Henriksson, responsible for Nordic cooperation

• Annual Meeting of Heads of Mission 2023Link to an external website (in Finnish)