Often used as an example for its economic performances and its competitiveness and innovative successes, Finland is one of the countries in the euro zone which has been hit the hardest by the crisis, due to a collapse of exports. After shrinking by 8% In 2009, the economy rebounded in 2010, with an estimated growth of 2.4%. The recovery was driven by the processing industry and semi-furnished goods stimulated by both foreign and domestic demand. It is expected that the economy will not return to its pre-recession growth rate before the end of 2012.

The crisis and stimulus measures had a profound and durable impact on public finances and debt levels. The main obstacle which the government now must deal with is therefore to combine measures to promote growth and measures allowing for the rebalancing of accounts. In the more long-term perspective, the aging population is also a source of future pressure on spending. Structural reforms focused on increasing productivity and employment offer are therefore necessary.

Its GDP being among the highest in the world, Finland offers a high living standard. The distribution of wealth is fair, however, social inequalities have risen in the recent years. Affected by the crisis, the unemployment rate has also increased considerably, reaching around 9% today.

Agriculture represents less than 3% of the current Finnish GNP and employes less than 5% of the population. Because of the unfavorable climate, agricultural development is limited to the maintainace of a certain level of self-sufficiency in basic products. Cereal production dominates, well ahead of milk production and animal husbandry. Finland's accession to the EU has further accelerated the process of restructuring and downsizing of this sector.

Forestry is traditionally well-developed: Finland exports a rich variety of products randing from simple wooden products to high-tech tags and labels and including paper, cardboard, packaging etc. Other key industrial sectors are metal production, mechanical engineering and electronic goods. Finland specializes in exporting information and communication technologies, Nokia becoming the world leading manufacturer of mobile handsets.

The service sector employs almost 70% of the population and accounts for almost 65% of the GDP.

Finland is a highly industrialized country, whose economy relies heavily on exports (40% of the GNP) and whose trade accounts for roughly 85% of the GDP. 

As an effect of the global economic crisis, the country experienced an unprecedented fall in foreign trade, exports decreasing by 32% and imports by 31%. The recovery in 2010 has been slow. The country's trade balance is structurally positive and remains positive in spite of a deterioration due to the crisis; this trend should continue in 2011.

The country's main trading partners are Germany, Russia, Sweden, China and the United States.

In the context of the international financial crisis, FDI inflow to Finland decreased dramatically in 2009; since then it has been growing slowly, a trend which is expected to continue into 2010. With regard to domestic FDI stocks, the country is ranked 38th in the world.

The country’s strenghts include: its reputation as having the least amount of corruption in the world, its competitiveness, its strategic position at the center of a dynamic zone formed by Russia, Scandinavia and the Baltic countries, and its economic orientation towards high technology, research and development.

For more information, refer to the Invest in Finland website.