Envoy: Finland keen to welcome UAE residents

dubai — European Union member Finland is more than keen to welcome UAE residents as it further deepens its ties with the UAE, Finnish Ambassador to the UAE Riitta Swan told Khaleej Times at the celebration of Finland’s 101st Independence Day in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. The event was graced by the guest of honour, Ahmed Sari Al Mazrouei, the Under-Secretary for Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC).

Swan, who has been in the country for the past three years, said: “Given the common strategy of growth and development followed by the UAE and Finland, we are open to UAE businesses to come and invest in our most vibrant key economic sectors like education, health, IT, startups, real-estate, clean and smart energy, and tourism among others. The EU member offers free healthcare and education facilities to foreigners who are entitled to resident visas should they invest in Finland.”

Finland recently inked its participation at Expo 2020 Dubai and it was confirmed by the Commissioner-General of Finland for Dubai Expo Severi Keinälä and Najeeb Mohammed Al Ali, executive director of Dubai Expo 2020 Bureau.

Currently, the UAE is home to about 2,000 Finnish expats and Swan expects this number to swell, as preparation work for Expo 2020 Dubai goes in full swing. The country currently has three airlines operating from Dubai to Helsinki, and Swan sees tourists numbers to surge as the airlines could consider increasing in-flight services.

“We Finnish people here are ambassadors of our country and have responsbilty to promote and create awareness of our nation,” said Swan, adding “businesses here in the UAE could not only look at Finland but also use it as a point to expand businesses further as it could help and facilitate investments from the UAE.”

Applauding the UAE’s efforts to develop the nation with a long-term vision, Swan said: “The UAE has just celebrated its 47th year National Day and it has established a strong platform to encourage the youth to build nation with diversified economy for tomorrow. “

Swan also noted that women empowerment is something that is a common passion shared by both nations and leaders are keen to encourage women from both sides to expand their businesses and create a mutual growth strategy.

We Finnish people here are ambassadors of our country and have responsbilty to promote and create awareness of our nation.”

Riitta Swan, Finnish Ambassador to the UAE