"Finland Must Create a National Globalization Strategy"

Finland must create a national globalization strategy if it wishes to remain competitive in the future, stated President of the Republic of Finland Tarja Halonen in her New Year’s Speech to the nation on January 1, 2004.

Photo: Lehtikuva

"Our key success factors will remain education, research, expertise and entrepreneurship. We need active measures to spur innovations and to develop and market them. Smooth cooperation between the public sector, education and business is extremely important", said the President.

According to President Halonen, Finland’s membership in the European Union and our active participation in every sector of its activity have enhanced Finns’ well-being and have also strengthened our security policy position.

"Finland wants to develop the European Union as an equal community of member states so that it corresponds to citizens’ needs and wishes as well as possible. The Union’s justification and acceptability depend on these things as well as the division of power, which is also important."

President Halonen’s New Year’s Speech also touched on the current security policy debate, employment, children’s welfare and Finnish cultural expertise. Furthermore, the President encouraged citizens to exercise their right to vote in the forthcoming European and local elections.