Dear Friends and Supporters,
Let me first highlight that this is completely my personal view, not representing any official views or opinions of anyone else. I have been closely involved with Pakistan for over 20 years and whatever might happen somewhere, I will stay around. Also now and tomorrow.
I have received so many messages over the weekend on this totally surprising news shared by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland on Friday:
“Ministry for Foreign Affairs has started preparations for closing the embassies of Finland in Islamabad, Kabul and Yangon. The plan is to close the embassies during 2026.”
I didn’t see this one coming. Actually nobody did. Especially now.
Many of you know the story but let’s look back:
First ever Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan, Mr. Asko Ivalo began his work in January 1951. Letter from Mr. Juho Kusti Paasikivi, President of Finland, to His Majesty George VI, was sent on the 12th January 1951 to confirm that appointment. Story of bilateral diplomatic relations began. There is also an interesting link between Finland and Pakistan, not official diplomatic one but something later became quite strong in one persons life: Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, former President of Finland, Nobel Peace Prize Winner and one of the most awarded and appreciated Finnish diplomats ever, started work life as a teacher at Swedish Institute of Technology in Karachi, Pakistan in 1960-1963.
Quick cut to modern times, Finland opened Embassy in Islamabad in 1990s, a few Ambassadors also did quite outstanding work, effectively introduced some of the Finnish companies like Wärtsilä to the Pakistani market. Among the textile and cement industries, Wärtsilä is still like a household name for reliable energy. Making those introductions, being active, these few Finnish Ambassadors and Chargé d’affaires acting in Pakistan actually got everything started.
But then suddenly, the rumors were out. And it became reality quickly. Embassy of Finland in Islamabad was closed in 2012. For budget cut reasons we were all told.
When the rumors about closing started to spread around, many business people in Pakistan contacted me and asked me to stop the process. One of them, late Mr. Zia Mohiuddin, Chairman of Panasian Group in Islamabad, a real old-fashion gentleman with strong ties with Sweden, even offered free office space at the Diplomatic Enclave to the Finnish Government just to keep the Finnish flag up. Such a gesture also tells a lot about the commitment from the Pakistan business side, I believe.
One very early morning, I met Mr. Alexander Stubb, Minister of Foreign Affairs back then, nowadays President of Finland, at a TV studio in Helsinki, we talked five minutes about the coming closing of the Finnish Embassy, he advised me to talk with the Permanent State Secretary, and eventually I met with Under-State Secretary sharing the regards from Pakistani businesses. But the decision was done and nothing couldn’t be changed anymore. That’s how governments work. Unfortunately.
Soon after, quite many realized that the decision wasn’t probably one of the smartest one. But that’s what keeps happening in politics, I guess.
Later that same week I was sitting next to my predecessor, late Mr. Heikki Timonen, Honorary Consul General of Pakistan for over 30 years, enjoying our regular coffee & breakfast catch-up-meeting at this apartment in Helsinki. Suddenly he said to me “Don’t worry, just put the Finland Pakistan Business Council back on tracks and Finland stays around in Pakistan by business and companies. I know that you can do it. And eventually Finnish Government will reopen the Embassy because they will see what is happening”. He was also one of the founding members of FPBC on the 31st October 1985.
That is exactly what we did, and the first business event took place in December 2012 in Helsinki, and then first Finland Pakistan Business Summit in Islamabad in 2014. In thirteen years we have done thirteen events, with hundreds of Finnish and Pakistani companies. We put FPBC back on tracks.
For years I was clearly told that Embassy of Finland wouldn’t be reopened. And for years I replied that obviously and eventually it will be. Everyone who knows me, also knows that I never give up. But it’s not only me, the realities are clear as well: Pakistan is a big market and Finland needs exports. That hasn’t changed since those days, pretty much opposite. Nowadays Pakistan is even bigger and Finland needs growth more than ever.
Then one day in early summer 2022, I got a request for a meeting to give an updated brief about Pakistan, because the preparation work of reopening have started. And just a few months later, on 1st September 2022, Finland was officially back. Like record quick. One mission accomplished. All good. I was very proud of Finnish Government. Earlier mistake fixed.
During 2012-2022 all diplomatic relations were done by Rowing Ambassadors, and we at FPBC kept running all trade, business, education – you name it. Everything we did was done privately, by private people and private companies. Only to keep the business relations live, and develop those further. I believe we have been doing that quite well. Actually, I would say very well. Maybe superb well would be in order. Results speak for us.
Now this decision of reclosing is done, exactly like it was done 13 years ago as well, so there isn’t anything we can do now. Except keep doing what we have done for 13 years already: hosting companies from Finland and Pakistan to meet potential partners, hosting companies to meet with the key stakeholders, keep the business and trade relations developing, keep the both flags up. Bridging people and companies. Connecting the Dots.
I am sure there are very good reasons to do budget cuts, but when it comes to Pakistan, I am not buying the reason of closing based on “…limited commercial and economic relations with Finland.” Finns are known to be honest, quite often brutally honest and direct, so let me be a Finn for a minute: that reason is nonsense. There could be other ones but not that.
There has never been this much business and investment activities between Finland and Pakistan in 75 years. There has never been so much activities in education, research, new industries, business visits, even tourism. Period.
Let me just share my quick ten takes on that:
1. Pakistan has become one of the fastest growing export markets to Finnish companies, maybe even the fastest one. Metso and Wärtsilä, both among the biggest companies in Finland, and both delivering their technologies to same Reko-Diq mining project, one of the largest copper and gold mine projects in the world. In case you missed my post in Linkedin, click here
2. Whole mining sector is booming in Pakistan, there are also many smaller Finnish companies involved, represented by their local partners. When everything goes as planned, I’d guess that mining cluster in total brings 1-2 bn Euros in exports to Finnish companies in the next five years! And this is about real business of Finnish companies to Pakistan, not anything like heavily subsidized operation in Finland or elsewhere creating jobs. If that isn’t enough to keep an Embassy or mission of Finland live, I could just wonder that is.
3. Finnfund, the investing arm of Finnish Government, has investments in Kashf Foundation and TPL Insurance, both ones quite productive for Finnish Government as well.
4. Only EU-funded vocational/skill development program in Pakistan is between TAI from Turku, Finland and NUTECH from Islamabad, Pakistan. 3 years program training professionals for hospitality and healthcare in Pakistan and further to Finland and EU job market. Like a EU flagship project in every sense and where Embassy of Finland as well as Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan, H.E. Mr. Hannu Ripatti have had a significant role.
5. University of Turku from Finland, and IBA from Karachi, Pakistan are working closely e.g. in entrepreneurship.
6. There are plenty of talks currently on international research opportunities between leading universities in Finland and Pakistan.
7. It’s not only the universities, but also smaller companies working in the education sector, like FGES opening Finnish schools in Pakistan with their local partner. FGES is also working, closely with UNESCO and AKU.
8. There has been more business visits of Finnish companies over the last two years than ever before and regular flow of Pakistani business people, educationists visiting Finland. Also Finnish tourists heading to the beautiful mountain area in North of Pakistan.
9. Wärtsilä, Metso, Kone, Nokia, Vaisala – all major publicly listed Finnish corporations, and they all in Pakistan, some directly, others with their local partners. And also huge private companies like Planmeca, plus tens of smaller companies representing technology, education and services. I don’t know where you could find so many Finnish companies just entering the market like in Pakistan. And I do know many other markets very well as well, including the US market mentioned in the announcement. I might also suggest anyone to look at the Pakistan-US relations currently, looks pretty much same that Finland-US relations, doesn’t it.
10. Pakistan is one of the most active countries in Finnpartnership’s portfolio. Finnpartnership is a business partnership program financed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and managed by Finnfund.
I could easily list another 10 easily. But now it is too late. Yes, maybe someone could have asked me. Or someone else who actually knows that is going on. This decision is not based on current facts.
In full, the official announcement shared on Friday states the reasons are “operational and strategic reasons, which are linked to changes in the countries’ political situation and their limited commercial and economic relations with Finland”. Politically Pakistan is always an act in middle of something, there isn’t anything new. Security reasons were not event mentioned, that’s usually the easiest one to be used, even that’s pretty much overrated in general discussions. And for some reason e.g. both Sweden and Denmark just got new female Ambassadors who are around everywhere simply in a outstanding way. Are the neighbors of Finland just smarter?
Let’s be honest, the decision is done due budget cuts (again), and that’s what should be said. That’s also easier to understand, we all know the challenges with the Finnish economy right now. Whether it’s a smart move, that’s another issue.
I am not in the politics, I will never be. I just keep supporting the businesses, knowledge and technology transfer between these two countries, talented people to do miracles together. But whoever briefed whoever to make the decision based on those limited commercial and economic bilateral relations didn’t have a clue what is happening.
It always takes two to tango. Definetely Pakistan should also have opened (finally) an Embassy in Finland. Since 2001, the accredited Embassy of Pakistan to Finland has been located in Stockholm, obviously better solutions than Moscow where it was for decades, but Finland is the only Nordic country without Embassy of Pakistan, and that doesn’t make any sense. I am sure we all understand that.
When I accepted the highly appreciated and honored request to continue the work of Mr. Heikki Timonen as Honorary Consul General of Pakistan in Finland, I promised to be available for five years (will be officially 10 years on February 2026) and during that time we should to see the opening of Embassy of Pakistan in Finland happening. As long as Finland didn’t have Embassy in Islamabad for ten years, my endless push to the Government of Pakistan was honestly quite unfair one, but after the reopening of the Finnish Embassy in 2022, it should have happened. And not only for some balance in the diplomatic relations but also because Pakistani community in Finland does deserve that.
Pakistanis in Finland are very well educated, probably best educated Pakistani community in the world per capita, a clearly untapped opportunity able to help Pakistan to grow and flourish. We know that in 2026 there will be more Pakistanis applying to Finnish universities for their masters and PhD studies than ever before. With an Embassy of Pakistan in Finland, I don’t think we would have seen the closing of Finnish Embassy in Islamabad. At least diplomatically it would have been a quite big barrier to climb over. I still believe there are some classic manners in this world.
That famous Finnish practicality? Closing in 2012, reopening after ten years, announcing reclosing after 3 years and 3 months after the reopening. That does sound strange, doesn’t it. Opening and closing Embassies isn’t very simple task either. Also closing has a price tag, I believe.
This isn’t my business. But the Finnish traditions and way to do business are based on practical approaches and long-term relations, that’s how the Finnish culture has always been, that’s how reputation is built – “Finns don’t speak so much but you can always trust them” – Finns are supposed to be and stay practical. And build long lasting relationships.
What’s happening now?
Nothing new. When it comes to diplomatic representation, we are back in square one. Business-wise we just keep going on. As always. We just keep going. That’s the only way to get things done in Pakistan or in any other country.
We are certainly able to operate without an Embassy, most of the companies are able to do the same, also universities, but for the reputation of Finland this is a very sad move. And the same goes for bilateral relations and this certainly has an effect on business as well. Whether the decision is about domestic politics or not, I don’t really care.
Population-wise Pakistan is the 5th biggest country in the world, 250 million people and growing. Finland is 5.6 million and certainly not growing. Finland needs growth, Pakistan is already making than to happen and in the middle of all this, Finland decided to close the Embassy. Again.
Kabul, Yangon and … Islamabad. You see what I am talking about, don’t you. There’s one who doesn’t fit in the picture.
But don’t worry, I never give up. And Finland Pakistan Business Council keeps doing what we have been doing for 40 years, we just reached that milestone on the 31 October 2025. And by the way, Finland and Pakistan celebrates 75 Years of Diplomatic Relations next year, another not so appreciating moment to say goodbye, I feel.
And yes, Finland Pakistan Business Summit 2026 will happen in April 2026, we are launching the date later this week so be ready and welcome to join us. We stay and we make things to happen for business in Finland and Pakistan.
Finally, let me share a quote of Ambassador of Finland to Pakistan, H.E. Hannu Ripatti six months ago: “There is increasing interest also from the Finnish side. One of the important things to note is that the economy in Pakistan has improved compared to 2023, which has attracted many Finnish companies. Small and medium-sized organisations from Finland have shown interest, especially in sectors related to commerce and education.”
He is so right and I am grateful for all the outstanding work he did for Finland-Pakistan relations! Your excellence, thank you! I know you are hosting the Independence Day of Finland reception later this week, we all would have hoped and expected different message to be celebrated in Islamabad.
We have been in this position before, and we made it to happen back then. And we are making things to happen in the future as well.
I have been involved with Pakistan for over 20 years. I know how much Pakistanis and Pakistani companies love and appreciate Finnish people, companies, technology and education. I believe that relationship remains. Whatever any governments decide. Friendship is there forever.
Déjà vu. I’ll be around. Like always.
Thank you and see you at Finland Pakistan Business Summit 2026 in April!
Best regards.
Wille Eerola
P.S. As there is so much talk about wars, conflicts and defense nowadays, I might also remind that Finland and Pakistan are both long-term providers of UN’s peacekeeping forces. Maybe that would help to understand the overall picture too.