Finnish companies should play the leading role in turning Finland’s strategic partnership with Vietnam into concrete projects, investments and technology transfers, according to Jarno Syrjälä, Finland’s Deputy Minister for International Trade.
Syrjälä said Vietnam is now Finland’s largest trading partner in Southeast Asia. However, he believes the two countries still have considerable untapped potential for business cooperation.
He highlighted clean energy, energy transition, smart infrastructure, logistics, maritime solutions, supply-chain digitalisation, telecommunications and sustainable agriculture as areas with opportunities for Finnish companies.
“Businesses, with their innovative spirit and concrete implementation capabilities, will be the driving force connecting ideas into projects,” Syrjälä said in an article published by VietnamPlus on 21 September.
Finnish investment remains limited
Finland currently has 37 investment projects in Vietnam with combined registered capital of $50.8 million. Finnish companies including Nokia, Vaisala, Valmet and KONE already operate in the country.
The figures suggest that Finnish investment remains relatively modest despite the established presence of several major companies.
Finland and Vietnam upgraded their relations to a strategic partnership during Vietnamese leader Tô Lâm’s visit to Finland in October 2025. The partnership covers areas including trade, investment, digital transformation, renewable energy, infrastructure and high-tech agriculture.
Educational links are also growing. Nearly 20 Vietnamese higher-education institutions cooperate with Finnish partners, while more than 2,500 Vietnamese students currently study in Finland.
Syrjälä said Finland’s expertise in clean technology, digitalisation and sustainable development could support Vietnam’s development goals. Finland aims to become carbon neutral by 2035, and around 96 percent of its electricity production is carbon-free.
Source: VietnamPlus/Vietnam.vn
