Prime Minister Orpo: AI offers many opportunities to Finland

Prime Minister Petteri Orpo attended the AI Action Summit in Paris on Monday and Tuesday, 10–11 February. In his closing remarks, Orpo underscored that artificial intelligence offers immense opportunities to Finland. The Prime Minister also met with several heads of state and government.

Prime Minister Orpo noted that AI is changing the world faster than we can anticipate.

“We need to grasp the opportunities offered by AI. Finland should invest in high-end technology and infrastructure. AI has the potential to generate many jobs and investments,” Prime Minister Orpo said in Paris.

Prime Minister Orpo met with heads of state and government and other representatives of several countries that are investing in artificial intelligence. He spoke with US Vice President James David Vance, Vice Premier of China Zhang Guoqing, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among others.

Prime Minister Orpo described the Paris AI Action Summit as a success. Countries investing in AI need both public and private funding for research and development. Orpo noted that Finland has skilled companies that operate internationally. AI offers these companies opportunities for growth.

“Europe needs to do more and bring added value to the development of AI. The Paris Summit is a good example of how we can boost global cooperation,” Prime Minister Orpo said. 

In connection with the summit, Orpo participated in a working dinner for EU leaders organised by French President Emmanuel Macron and in a dinner for heads of state and government. The dinners were attended by about 25 heads of state and government from across the globe.

The AI Action Summit concluded with the adoption of a declaration that Finland signed. The declaration outlines cooperation between the countries to promote climate and environmentally sustainable artificial intelligence. 

While in Paris, Prime Minister Orpo also opened a Team Finland event for Finnish and French AI experts and companies. The event was organised by the Embassy of Finland in France, the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and the Finnish Innovation Fund Sitra.

Inquiries: Tuomas Tikkanen, Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister in European Affairs, tel. +358 40 523 5768, Aki Enkenberg, Chief Specialist,  tel. +358 50 513 9555, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Marko Ruonala, Project Manager (Communications), tel. +358 50 522 8233, Prime Minister’s Office