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7.7.2026 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has received approximately 2,200 seasonal work visa applications this year for the purpose of wild-berry picking in Finland. To date, a majority of the applications have been processed, approximately 1,600 applications in total. The processing has revealed indications of a risk of worker exploitation, as well as shortcomings in employers’ compliance with their statutory obligations. The majority of the applications, approximately 1,400, have been refused.

21.5.2026 | Special Address by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development of Finland, H.E. Ville Tavio at the LDC Future Forum on 20 May 2026, Helsinki, Finland.

11.2.2026 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish missions abroad provided consular services to approximately 245,000 customers in 2025. In addition, the Ministry’s 24/7 service was contacted around 6,700 times over the course of the year.

8.12.2025 | This year, the International Gender Equality Prize was awarded to Masha Foundation , a Ukrainian public organisation which carries out significant work to help Ukrainian women overcome the psychological consequences of war and other violence.

17.11.2022 | Nepal and Finland have a long history of development cooperation that dates back to the 1980s. Long-term development cooperation has helped Nepal reduce poverty, improve literacy and give almost everyone access to clear drinking water, according to Finland’s Ambassador to Nepal Riina-Riikka Heikka.

15.5.2025 | The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has adopted a development policy investment strategy for 2025–2027. The strategy guides the use of the appropriation allocated to development policy loans and investments in accordance with the Government Report on International Economic Relations and Development Cooperation. The general terms and conditions for development policy loans and investments are published concurrently with the strategy.

2.7.2025 | About 2,600 wild-berry pickers were granted a seasonal work visa for Finland for summer 2025. About 60 applicants received a negative decision.

13.9.2022 | In 2006–2022, the Rural Village Water Resources Management Project in the Far West regions of Nepal brought clean water to more than 600,000 people. At the same time, it promoted health and food security, advanced the rights of women and minorities, and improved economic livelihoods.

14.9.2022 | The Rural Village Water Resources Management Project in the Far West region of Nepal ends this autumn. It succeeded in its goal of reducing poverty. In addition to improving access to water, the development cooperation project promoted livelihoods and rural business development.

13.9.2022 | The Rural Village Water Resources Management Project in the Far West regions of Nepal succeeded in improving the rights and livelihoods of women, girls and disadvantaged groups. Development cooperation addressed a number of gender equality issues.

23.5.2025 | At the presidential session on 23 May, the President of the Republic appointed the following persons to serve as heads of missions: Petri Puhakka, Kathmandu; Kirsikka Lehto-Asikainen, Paris; Eija Rotinen, Bogota; Antti Putkonen, Baghdad; Ville Cantell, Reykjavik; Lasse Keisalo, Lima; Katja Ahlfors, Dakar; Teemu Turunen, London; and Stefan Lindström, Houston. In addition, the President of the Repub...

2.5.2022 | Nepal is preparing for graduation from the least developed country (LDC) category in 2026. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs commissioned a study for an analysis of the changing relationship between Finland and Nepal, because the cooperation will expand and partnerships will diversify after the transition.

5.7.2021 | Government of Finland and UNICEF partnership helps address the education and water, sanitation and hygiene needs of children and families amidst the pandemic.

26.5.2021 | Finland will send material assistance to Nepal through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to tackle the COVID-19 crisis. The material assistance will include face masks, protective visors, protective gloves and medical gowns.

26.5.2021 | Finland will send material assistance to Nepal through the European Union Civil Protection Mechanism to tackle the COVID-19 crisis. The material assistance will include face masks, protective visors, protective gloves and medical gowns.

4.5.2020 | Vital remittances to Nepal at risk due to coronavirus outbreak, says Ambassador Pertti Anttinen Ministry for Foreign Affairs Publication date 4.5.2020 10.13 Type: Press release Migrant workers’ remittances to their home countries have declined due...

18.1.2024 | The budget reductions set out in the Government Programme will focus especially on region and country-specific development cooperation. The Country Programmes with Afghanistan, Kenya, Mozambique and Myanmar will be discontinued during the government term. Reductions will also be made in multilateral cooperation, humanitarian assistance and development policy loans and investments.

9.11.2022 | Recent crises underline the importance of development cooperation as a key instrument of foreign and security policy, according to Finland’s Development Policy Results Report submitted to Parliament on 9 November.

23.3.2023 | Education sector representatives from the Asian Development Bank and from Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, Sri Lanka and Uzbekistan are visiting Finland from 22 to 24 March 2023. The aim of the visit is to deepen cooperation in matters related to teacher education, school meals and digital learning.

27.10.2023 | In 2024–2026, the higher education cooperation of Finland’s Ministry for Foreign Affairs will prioritise teacher education, climate change and the circular economy, and food security. The Foreign Ministry grants just over EUR 6 million to the seven projects approved for the partnership programme.