Internationalisation and trade barrier survey to identify challenges facing Finnish companies in import and export
Does your company have internationalisation plans? Have you already selected your markets? Has your company encountered barriers related to the import and export of goods, services or investments? Do licensing and certification requirements differ for domestic companies as compared to your company? Does public procurement favour domestic companies?
The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs is seeking answers to these and many other questions in its 2012 survey on internationalisation and trade barriers. The aim of the survey is to identify challenges facing Finnish companies in their foreign trade. When last carried out in 2009, the survey generated much interest and provided a good picture of the situation at the time. The current survey is the most extensive to date, with around 7,000 questionnaires sent to companies throughout Finland.
The questionnaire is part of The Action Plan on Finland’s External Economic Relations, which aims to support employment and the internationalisation of Finnish businesses. The responses will be used to develop measures supporting the export and internationalisation efforts of Finnish companies, including selecting destinations for future export promotion visits, as well as developing the public services available.
In terms of competitiveness, it is vital to strive to remove the trade barriers facing Finnish companies in import and export. Trade barriers are addressed both bilaterally with the countries concerned at the ministerial and civil servant level, and in cooperation with the EU Commission. Russia’s accession to the WTO and the free trade agreements that the EU is negotiating with numerous countries provide new possibilities for addressing these problems and opening markets.
The questionnaire can be completed online at http://formin.finland.fi/tradepolicy/tradebarriers not later than 19 October 2012.
The questionnaire is being carried out by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the Ministry for Employment and the Economy, Finpro, the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK, the Central Chamber of Commerce, the International Chamber of Commerce ICC, the Federation of Finnish Enterprises and the Federation of Finnish Commerce.
For more information please contact the Unit for Market Access: Head of Unit Ilkka Saarinen, tel. +358 9 1605 6327, or Commercial Counsellor Heli Siikaluoma, tel. +358 9 1605 6528, e-mail: tradebarrier@formin.fi