Minister Lehtomäki to improve Finland’s image in China with karaoke

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"More karaoke for everybody", Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Paula Lehtomäki (Centre) answers the question of how the social skills of Finnish businessmen could be improved in China.
      According to a survey conducted by Taloustutkimus and commissioned by Finpro, the Chinese regard the Finns as inflexible and lacking in their social skills and understanding of Chinese culture. The purpose of the survey was to give information for the planning of a three-year campaign in China that is to be launched by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, in order to make Finland known in China.
     
The results of the survey showed that only 80 percent of the respondents had some or just a little information about Finland. When asked which European countries came to mind first, only three percent of the respondents mentioned Finland.
      Furthermore, Finland is more known in Beijing and Shanghai than in Canton. In Shanghai, people connected Finland to its northern location and nature, whereas in Canton most of the respondents mentioned Nokia.
      The respondents included 90 executives of large companies involved in international business, and seven officials, who were interviewed in Beijing, Shanghai, and Canton.
     
In China the campaign will be launched in connection with the visit of Minister Lehtomäki in mid-November. A delegation of 25 Finnish executives of various companies will accompany the minister to Beijing, Shanghai, Canton and Hongkong.
      During the first year, the campaign will focus on strengthening the image of Finland in general, and during the next two years on company-specific campaigning. The budget for the campaign is about one million euros for each of the three years.


Links:
  Ministry of Trade and Industry: Campaign to make Finland better known in China

Helsingin Sanomat