Philippine Ambassador-Designate to Finland Calls on Director General of the Department for the Americas and Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Finland

Philippine Ambassador-designate to Finland Maria Lumen B. Isleta (right) and Director General Piritta Asunmaa, Department for the Americas and Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland (left). (Stockholm PE photo)

HELSINKI, FINLAND 11 September 2021 – Philippine Ambassador-designate to Finland Maria Lumen B. Isleta called on Director General Piritta Asunmaa of the Department for the Americas and Asia of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland during the former’s visit to Helsinki on 10 September 2021.

Ambassador-designate Isleta conveyed her priorities once her letters of credence have been accepted and acknowledged by the Finnish President on 21 October 2021, which includes: pushing for the possibility of an ASEAN-EU Free Trade Agreement negotiations; boosting Philippines-Finland cooperation in information technology, digitization, and gaming; technical cooperation on renewable energy technologies; strengthening education and labour cooperation; and forging cultural exchanges. 

Director General Asunmaa welcomed Ambassador-Isleta’s plans, stating that Finland is keen on fostering stronger ties with Southeast Asian countries and specifically pointing to Philippine nurses as a “talent boost” to Finnish labour force.

Both Ambassador-designate Isleta and Director General Asunmaa looked forward to the possible conduct of Bilateral Consultations between the Philippines and Finland in 2022, which Finland is slated to host. Director General Asunmaa welcomed the suggestion of possible high-level visits as well as business delegation visits from both sides to strengthen and inspire stronger economic and cultural ties between both countries. END