Finns used to be considered backward: Jyrki Katainen tells what changed

A group of large Nordic companies and organizations join forces in the new Nordic Compass project. Chairman of the coalition, ex-prime minister of the coalition and today Nordic working as social relations manager Jyrki Katainentold about the new collaboration on Monday’s Talousaamu.

In addition to Nordea, there are participants from Finland Nokia and Kone and think tank Sitra.

There are plenty of business discussion clubs in Finland and Europe. Why is such a club needed?

“To strengthen competitiveness. Nordea is a founding member, we were thinking about this project from the beginning. This is the first time that Nordic companies organize themselves in the form of an association. We focus on very concrete actions that strengthen competitiveness.”

The association has four independent working groups whose themes are the defense sector, deep technology, energy and the capital market.

“The companies participating in the working groups discuss what they could do with each other to strengthen the industry’s competitiveness, or whether there are policy changes that governments or the EU should make.”

Isn’t the voice of the Nordic countries really being heard in Europe?

“It is being heard more and more. The Nordic countries now have a better reputation than in years. We were considered a bit of a backward and narrow-minded country here in the past years. But the Nordic social model, where a welfare society, competitiveness and open world trade are combined, now arouses more interest than before.”

The Nordic “culture of doing” is also valued in EU circles, Katainen estimates.

The Nordic Compass coalition has been established for books in Denmark. Who is actually pulling this?

“Companies’ cooperation is driving. I lead the government, there are people from Finland Antti Herlin included, from Sweden Jacob Wallenbergone representative from each Nordic country. This is a very purely business-led organization, which will either succeed or it will be ditched if it doesn’t produce results.”

Does Finland benefit?

“According to all logic, there should be benefits. If we identify concrete measures between companies and they are carried out, then Finland will also benefit from it. Or if policy changes are sought, then Finland will also benefit from it.”

Watch the full broadcast here: