New Ambassador to Lusaka, side-accreditations to Seychelles and Oman, and one authorisation

On Friday 9 November, the President of the Republic appointed Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury as Head of the Finnish Embassy in Lusaka starting on 19 November 2018.

Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury.

Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury has been Finland's Ambassador to Nigeria from 2014 until August this year. In 2010–2014, she served as Director of the Unit for UN Development Affairs. Her career in the diplomatic service includes postings to the mission of Finland in Santiago de Chile in 2003–2007 and in Beijing in 2000–2003. Suomela-Chowdhury holds a Master of Social Sciences degree.

In addition, the President of the Republic authorised Ambassador Erik Lundberg, Head of Finland's Embassy in Nairobi, to represent Finland in Seychelles, and Ambassador Antti Rytövuori, Head of Finland's Embassy in Riyadh, to represent Finland in Oman.

The President of the Republic also authorised Ambassador Pirkko Hämäläinen to represent Finland in the United Nations' international bodies in Vienna (UNOV, UNIDO), the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), and the International Anti-Corruption Academy (IACA).

Inquiries: Ari Rouhe, Director General, Administrative Services, tel. +358 295 350 679.

The Foreign Ministry’s email addresses are in the format firstname.lastname@formin.fi.