Raportit tapahtumista
Finnish-French Business Forum 2023
The Finnish-French Business Forum 2023 took place on Tuesday 26th of September 2023 in Helsinki. The event had three parts: a day-time seminar (at the Helsinki City Hall) followed by a cocktail (at the French Embassy in Kaivopuisto) and a gala dinner (at the Kämp restaurant).
The theme of this year's business seminar was sustainable business and ecological transition. These themes and topics will continue to be discussed in the events of the CCFF Helsinki throughout the year 2024.
The Forum offered an interesting and high-level program with distinguished speakers. CCFF Helsinki especially thanks sponsors and supporters who made this event possible: Alstom, BNP Paribas, Business France, City of Helsinki, Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, Danone, Embassy of France, Fazer, Finnish Family Business Association, Halton, Kempower, Kontio, KPMG, Nokia, Schneider Electric, Saint-Gobain, Sitra and Vaisala.
The event was also an opportunity to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Finnish-French Chamber of Commerce, which was founded in Paris in 1923!
The forum had more than 100 participants from different companies and organizations. Next time the event will be hosted by the CCFF Paris in 2025.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FINNISH FRENCH BUSINESS FORUM 26 SEPTEMBER 2023
Helsinki City Hall, Empire Hall
8h15 – 9h00 Welcoming coffee
9h00 – 9h15 Welcome words and introductions
·Ms. Liisa Ketomäki, President of the CCFF
·Mayor of Helsinki, Mr. Juhana Vartianen
·Video greeting from Mr. Olivier BECHT, Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs
9h15-9h45 The Finnish and French perspectives and collaboration at governmental and EU level on sustainable business and ecological transition
·Finland: Member of Parliament, Kokoomus, Ms. Pia Kauma (stepping in for minister of Foreign Affairs Ms. Elina Valtonen)
·France: Her Excellency Ambassador Agnès Cukierman
9h45-11h15 ROUND TABLE: ESG - environmental social and governance
“Nokia and the new ESG strategy”, Mr. Karol Mattila, Head of Government Affairs, Finland, NOKIA
“Sustainability excellence in built environment”, Mr. Sami Piirainen, Managing Director, Halton Marine Oy, member of Halton Group Executive Team, HALTON
“Key insights from Danone’s sustainability journey”, Mr. Facundo Etchebehere, s SVP Sustainability Strategy & Partnerships. DANONE
”Case Kontio”, Mr. Mika Rytky, CEO, KONTIO
and with Ms. Riikka Leppänen, Manager, Sustainable Finance & Corporate Sustainability, KPMG
followed by a round table moderated by Mr. Raine Tiessalo, Head of Communications and Advocacy, FINNISH FAMILY BUSINESS ASSOCIATION (Perheyritysten Liitto)
11h15-12h00 moving on to the theme of ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION (vihreä siirtymä)
“Nature safeguards our economy”, Ms. Outi Haanpää, Project Director, Nature and the Economy, SITRA
“Case Schneider Electric”, Ms. Sirpa Ikola, Vice President, Strategy and Development. SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC
“The future of food”, Ms. Joséphine Mickwitz, EVP, Communications & Sustainability, FAZER
13h00 – 14h30 ROUND TABLE: ECOLOGICAL TRANSITION
“Moderator’s framing: Advancing green transition across sectors”, Janne Peljo, Chief Policy Advisor, Climate and Biodiversity, CONFEDERRATION OF FINNISH INDUSTRIES EK
“Saint Gobain and low-carbon construction”, Mr. Olli Nikula, CEO, SAINT-GOBAIN
“Smart mobility for a smart city”, Mr. Guillaume Legoupil, Managing Director Finland, ALSTOM
“Enabling climate action through measurement data”, Ms. Anne Jalkala, Chief Sustainability and Strategy Officer, VAISALA
“Case Kempower”, Mr. Jussi Vanhanen, Chief Marketing Officer, KEMPOWER
Round table moderated by Janne Peljo, EK
COCKTAIL
17h00-19h00 Cocktail offered by the Embassy of France in Helsinki (Itäinen Puistotie 13).
GALA DINNER
20h00 gala dinner restaurant Kämp, Peilisali (Pohjoisesplanadi 29)
Opening words by Ms. Liisa Ketomäki, President of the CCFF Helsinki
Greetings from the CCFF Paris, Mr. Peter Eriksson, President of the CCFF Paris
Guest of honor: Mr. Juhana Vartiainen, Mayor, City of Helsinki
