Finland’s Ambassador to India, Kimmo Lähdevirta, called EU sanctions against Russia “essential”, urged giving new impetus to the long-pending India-EU free trade agreement, and highlighted the rapid growth of partnerships in defence, space, education, clean energy and talent mobility.
In a detailed interview on The essentials. Lähdevirta said Finland’s support for EU oil sanctions remained firm, arguing they were necessary to pressure Moscow to end its war in Ukraine. Oil, he stressed, remains Russia’s main source of income. While acknowledging that India has increased its purchases of discounted Russian crude, he said Europe hopes more countries will eventually turn to alternative sources, while keeping in mind the price cap mechanism.
On trade, the envoy expressed optimism that the India-EU FTA negotiations are entering a decisive final phase. A successful deal, he said, would strengthen rules-based trade, improve predictability for businesses and unlock greater investment flows. According to him, both markets stand to gain from clearer access and reduced barriers once negotiations are concluded.
Finland’s economic footprint in India is expanding, with around 100 Finnish companies operating in sectors such as telecommunications, clean energy, smart grids, maritime engines and education technology. Finnish startups, he added, are increasingly attracted to the Indian market, including digital learning tools and software for smart electricity meters. On the other hand, around twenty Indian companies are active in Finland, with cumulative investments approaching one billion euros compared to around 4 billion euros invested by Finnish companies in India.
Lähdevirta also highlighted Finland’s need for qualified professionals, highlighting the Talent Boost program which has helped grow the Indian community in Finland from around 2,000 to more than 20,000 in two decades. He warned would-be migrants against fraudulent recruitment agents and advised them to rely on verified or official channels.
Regarding education, the ambassador clarified that Finnish public universities do not establish foreign campuses, but academic cooperation with Indian institutions continues through joint programs, exchanges and research partnerships.
Space has become a rapidly growing dimension of the relationship, with Finnish “new space” startups such as ICEYE and ReOrbit collaborating with Indian companies. Finland, he said, is keen to use Indian launch facilities, highlighting India’s strengths in the field of geostationary launches.
Defense cooperation is anchored in a 2020 memorandum of understanding between defense ministries, with Finnish companies already working with Indian partners in the supply of small arms and technology. In the energy sector, Lähdevirta highlighted Finland’s strengths in clean energy, smart grids and flexible balancing solutions. Wärtsilä, a leading Finnish engineering company, plays an important role in maritime and land-based power systems and is preparing for next-generation fuels.
The ambassador said Finland views India as an increasingly important partner in strategic and technological areas, with opportunities in the areas of energy transition, space, innovation and skilled labor mobility continuing to grow.
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