A humble nation amidst achievements

Mariecar Jara-Puyod, Senior Reporter

Nowhere in the map from the 1200s to the 1800s when its two mighty and powerful neighbours−the Kingdom of Sweden and the Russian Empire took turns in ruling and reigning over it, the Finland of today in Northern Europe−whose over five million population enjoy among an array of natural wonders, the magnificent Aurora Borealis or the Northern Lights−has been humbly basking for all its achievements as an independent sovereign nation.

For the fourth consecutive year, since 2018, it has been designated by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network through its The World Happiest Report as “The Happiest Country in the World.”

Consider these other international accolades Finland and the Finns−only several among over a dozen−have amassed: The Most Stable Country in the World (2018, Fragile State Index), The Freest Country in the World with fellow Nordic nations Sweden and Norway (2018, Freedom in the World), The Safest Country in the World (2017, World Economic Forum-The Travel & Tourism Competitive Report), The Country with the Best Governance in the World (2018, Legatum Institute-The Legatum Prosperity Index), People Who Feel the Second Least Insecure in the World (2018, Gallup-Law and Order Index), The Second Lowest Inequality Among Children in the World (United Nations International Children’s Fund-Fairness for Children: A League Table of Inequality on Child Well-Being in Rich Countries), Finnish Adults are the Second Least Likely to Smoke of European Union Countries (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development-Health at a Glance: Europe 2018: Adults Smoking Daily), The Country with the Least Organised Crime in the World (2018, World Economic Forum-The Global Competitiveness Report), and The Country with the Most Independent Judicial System in the World (2018, World Economic Forum-The Global Competitiveness Report: Judicial Independence).

How Finland and the Finns have done it even if they were a small country which had suffered from a number of wars to regain a land they truly own and a liberty they deserve like all the rest of mankind−that is the story that every visitor at the Lumi or Snow Cape Pavilion−three storeys high within the Mobility District of the Expo2020Dubai south of Dubai. The pavilion is easily recognisable with its white drape and a pool of water at its facade. The white drape is the first glistening snow that envelopes Finland’s well-maintained flat-lands and preserved thick woodlands, as it freezes to some extent its 187,888 pristine freshwater lakes (represented by the pool of water) come winter time which may start any time from August to September. The white drape is also the tent in the Arabian Peninsula and specifically meant to highlight the heritage and culture of the UAE.

The pavilion was officially inaugurated on Oct. 1 (Friday), the first day of one of the world’s grandest events and first to be held of the now-ebbing Novel Coronavirus (COVID19) pandemic, by Finland’s Economic Affairs Minister Mika Lintilla. Finland Pavilion Commissioner General Severi Keinala, and Finnish Ambassador to the UAE/Qatar/Bahrain Marianne Nissila. On Monday, Gulf Today was among the international press that gathered at the pavilion’s business majlis on the top floor prior to a guided tour by exhibition director Petri Ryoppy.

Lintilla commented on the importance of Expo2020Dubai for Finland’s bilateral relationship with the UAE: “The UAE is Finland’s second biggest export country in the Middle East, after Saudi Arabia. Expo2020Dubai provides a vital platform for Finland and our 120 partner companies, enabling us to strengthen our shared goals in areas such as sustainability, education, digitalisation and happiness. Together with the UAE and the global business community, we aim to co-create and innovate agile, sustainable, and smart solutions for future business opportunities and societal development.”

Kenala gave his piece on the importance of Expo2020Dubai for the global business community: “As we reflect on the last year and acknowledge how much countries around the world have overcome, we are proud to come together ro celebrate our resilience and look to the future in the spirit of cooperation. We are proud to be part of a moment in history that marks the first World Expo in the Middle East and the first large-scale public event in the region since the onset of COVID19. We are also proud of the passion we share with the UAE for enhancing business and societal happiness.”

Nissila expressed her happiness as she pointed out that the presence of Finland at Expo2020Dubai “helps build bridges and that to happen here is an exceptional opportunity to strengthen bilateral relations” by business-to-business, government-to-government, and government-to-business pathways.

She touched on the similarities of her country and its people with the host government and the Emiratis. First, the “very rapid transformation of what they have become. Citing Finland, being a small country and centuries of being poor and coming out of wars, is what it is now because of investments in human resources just like the UAE has been giving an all-out support to every basic needs of its citizens and its expatriates. Second, the happiness index whereby for the Finns, happiness means “being content with your life, looking forward to a brighter future (particularly a much better one for the children and these are all propped up with the values of trust, respect, and calm.” Third, the zealous journey towards sustainable living by way of imbibing the circular economy goals which are all again fortified by astute and well-decided upon investments on education, digital economy, and smart technology through and in all sectors by all stakeholders.

Experiencing the Finnish way of life, one gets to know that as education plays a crucial role in developing the character and mindset of any individual, every Finn and every Finland resident becomes a “problem solver,” an un-biased individual open to the vicissitudes and the existence of all the negativity the world has, and most importantly, a firm believer in as well as supporter of all the evidence-based scientifically gathered conclusions in all research works “because that is the only way we can (move forward and move on) with the well-meaning politicians voted into office, exhibition director Ryoppy told Gulf Today.

Visit the Lumi and know “Sharing Future Happiness.” Have the thrill of how continuing innovations and smart technology create connectivity between people and all the necessities in life which include the thrill of the speech-activated Kone elevators that surprises the rider with various sensory magic. Know the “Missing Link” and how any person may be able to contribute in his own little way towards a more sustainable way of life. Spend some time at the gorge as according to Ryoppy, through 2020, more Finns have come to embrace more nature just so to persevere and overcome the harsh effects of the SARS-CoV2.