Concrete results from projects 

In 2012 there was a slight decrease in demand for Finnpartnership’s services. Finnpartnership received 86 new applications and granted Business Partnership Support for 77 projects, to the total sum of EUR 2.4 million. More detailed information can be found in the Board of Directors’ Report.

Of the recipients of Business Partnership Support in 2009, 52 companies, who received a total of EUR 1.5 million, have submitted their final follow-up reports. Nearly half of them said operations were continuing well despite the continuing challenging economic situation in the world. The companies have invested EUR 35.7 million in their target countries, which is over twenty-four times the amount of support reimbursed. Another 12 per cent of companies said that their projects were still at the planning stage but predicted that a long-term business partnership would be formed in the near future.

The companies provide work for about 1672 people. 1283 persons are directly employed and as much as 40 per cent of these are women.

72 per cent of the projects reported development impacts related to the transfer of know-how and technology.

The aim of training included in the projects is to develop human capital in the working population of the target country. Personnel were trained in 72 per cent of projects.

The impacts of the project on the society of the target country are assessed in terms of working conditions and social benefits to employees. All projects comply with local legislation and with local standards for occupational health and safety. Of the projects that provide employment, 82 per cent also comply with international conventions on worker’s rights and conditions, and 71 per cent with international standards on occupational health and safety.

79 per cent of companies that employ people reported other social impacts (including higher wages and HIV/AIDS prevention programmes). Companies have also had a positive influence on employment and working conditions for women, and on gender equality, e.g. by applying the equal pay for equal work principle.

General infrastructure has been improved in 24 per cent of the projects, and 68 per cent reported an impact on the market and production structure of the target country.

All projects comply with environmental legislation. 42 per cent said there had been other positive environmental effects, such as greater use of energy-efficient methods and environment-friendly raw materials.

In 24 per cent of projects, exports from a developing country to Finland or the EU had begun. Because support has been conditional on value-added importing from developing countries, all companies reported developmental effects of various degrees in this area.

Matchmaking service connects companies in Finland and developing countries

In 2012 Finnpartnership received 129 matchmaking requests from companies operating in developing countries.

Between 2006 and 2012, 445 applications have been registered with the matchmaking service. In about 23 per cent of the cases there has been at least communication between Finnish companies and companies in developing countries, and about 14 per cent of these have advanced to the stage of concrete co-operation.

In the end of 2012, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs decided that Finnfund continues to manage Finnpartnership until the end of 2013. During the year 2013 the ministry will make further plans for the continuation of the programme.

Examples of projects supported by Finnpartnership