IFC, the corporate financing branch of the World Bank, has recently invested Finnish money in a project package that aims at vastly increasing the wind power capacity in Africa. In addition, Finland and IFC will enter more in-depth cooperation by providing new support to develop innovative energy projects in the poorest countries.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen will participate in the Annual Meeting of the World Bank Group and the meeting of the joint Development Committee of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank in Bali, Indonesia on 11–13 October.

Ms Anne-Mari Virolainen, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development, will visit Jakarta in Indonesia with a Team Finland trade delegation on 8–11 October.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will visit Iceland on 7–9 October 2018.

An informal meeting of EU ministers responsible for trade will be held in Innsbruck on 4–5 October 2018. Finland's representative at the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen will visit Rome on 3–4 October. During the visit, Virolainen will meet representatives of the Government of Italy and have meetings at UN organisations.

According to the Government’s ownership steering policy, the investment portfolio of the State’s development financing company Finnfund must invest in the poorest countries in particular, as well as in high-risk projects that have significant development impacts. In line with this policy, the Government has decided to reintroduce the special risk financing instrument worth EUR 75 million.

The Commission’s Structural Reform Support Programme offers financing and technical support to all Member States. The programme’s objective is to support structural reforms in the Member States and to promote growth and competitiveness. The application round for 2019 is now open.

During the high-level week Minister Soini will stress the need for further development of peace mediation and peace operations. In particular, Finland wishes to strengthen the role of women and the young in peace processes. On Minister Virolainen’s agenda the focus is on sustainable development, climate change and equality.

There is a desperate shortage of decent jobs in developing countries. Finn Church Aid's (FCA) investment company responds to this need by introducing a new tool to Finland’s development policy.

Counsellor for Foreign Affairs Helena Tuuri has been appointed Finland's new Baltic Sea Ambassador. The Baltic Sea Ambassador's duties include maintenance of broad contacts and networking with diverse stakeholders

Executive Director David Beasley will visit Finland on 18–19 September. A major part of Finland's humanitarian assistance is channelled to crisis areas through the World Food Programme (WFP).

Olgoministtar Soini galleda Anáris vuossárgga čakčamánu 17. beaivve ja oassálastá doppe ordnejuvvon árktalaš parlamentarihkkárkonferensii ja galleda Avvila logahagas.

On Monday 17 September, Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will visit Inari, where he will participate in the 13th Arctic Parliamentary Conference. From there he will continue his tour of Finnish schools and visit Ivalo Upper Secondary School.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini has appointed former MP Christina Gestrin (MSc in Agriculture and Forestry, EMBA) to serve as the Minister's Special Representative for Baltic Sea Cooperation. Gerstrin will focus on promoting cooperation in the Baltic Sea region, with special emphasis on the environment.

Minister for Nordic Cooperation Anne Berner will participate in a meeting of Ministers for Nordic Cooperation on 6 September 2018.

On 3 September 2018, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini appointed Ambassador Sofie From-Emmesberger to serve as new Chair of the EU’s Political and Security Committee (PSC).

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen will lead a Team Finland visit to Denmark on 4–5 September.

Yves Daccord, Director-General of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) will visit Finland on 6–7 September and meet Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen.

Simon Coveney, Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade and Deputy Prime Minister (Tánaiste), will visit Finland and meet Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini in Helsinki on Tuesday 4 September 2018.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini will visit Croatia on Monday 3 September. He will have meetings with Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Marija Pejčinović Burić and Prime Minister Andrej Plenković.

In the government budget session, decisions were made on additional funding for the Foreign Ministry' network of missions, regional cooperation, and export promotion. The Ministry’s operating expenses total EUR 224.8 million.

An informal meeting of EU foreign ministers (Gymnich) will be held in Vienna on 30–31 August. Finland's representative at the meeting will be Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini.

The Europe Forum Turku will gather Finnish opinion-makers and citizens to discuss Finland's role in Europe and in the European Union. A discussion event, organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA), will take place on Friday 31 August.

According to an independent evaluation conducted for the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, Finland’s development policy has been successful in promoting good practices to enhance the rights of women and girls. However, in addition to political commitment, a more clearly defined gender equality strategy would be required.

The Netherlands' Minister of Foreign Affairs Stephanus Blok will visit Finland and have bilateral discussions with Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini on Tuesday 28 August.

The Heads of Finnish Missions abroad will convene for their annual meeting in Helsinki on 27–31 August.

The World Humanitarian Day will be held next Sunday, 19 August. This year, special attention will be called to the difficult situation of civilians affected by acute conflicts in, for example Syria, Yemen, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Finland’s competence in the education sector is of the highest standard around the world. This should also be more strongly reflected in the priorities and funding of development cooperation, a new report suggests.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini and UK Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt will meet on Tuesday 14 August.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ 2019 budget proposal for its administrative branch totals EUR 1,131 million.

Finland was mainly viewed in a positive or neutral light in international online articles and social media discussions. A recent media analysis shows that Helsinki succeeded well in seizing the opportunity to bask in the spotlight of the international media.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs will organise a thisisFINLAND Foreign Correspondents' Programme (FCP) from 6 to 24 August 2018. During the three weeks, 16 young foreign correspondents and media professionals will have an opportunity to learn about Finland and the Finnish society.

Protocol No. 16 to the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms on a system of advisory opinions entered into force on 1 August 2018.

The 24/7 consular services provided by the Consular Service Centre of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be handled by the Emergency Response Centre Agency for a fixed period of two years starting on 1 August 2018.

Today is the 20th anniversary of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Currently, 123 states are parties to the Statute.

As is traditional, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs is participating in SuomiAreena, the most important open-air forum for social dialogue of Finland’s summer, held in Pori, on Thursday, 19 July.

Nearly 90 per cent of Finns find development cooperation to be important. Citizens feel that education, in particular, is an area where Finland has a lot to give. The responses were elicited in an opinion poll carried out by Taloustutkimus on behalf of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland.

The meeting of the US and Russian Presidents in Helsinki puts Finland in the spotlight of international media attention. The Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs together with the City of Helsinki will take advantage of this opportunity for its country branding. We will make sure that all services run smoothly and that our international media guests can have a unique experience.

A total of 1,436 journalists have accredited to the meeting of the US and Russian Presidents in Helsinki on Monday 16 July 2018. Altogether 61 countries submitted accreditation applications.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has appointed Marko Ruonala to serve as Press Counsellor at the Permanent Representation of Finland to the European Union. His three-year term will start on 1 September.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has appointed Ms Tanja Huutonen to the post of Press Counsellor at the Embassy of Finland in Berlin. The three-year term will start on 1 September 2018.

The UN High-level Political Forum (HLPF) will convene in New York from 9 to 18 July 2018. The annual forum reviews progress in attaining the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) (2030 Agenda) that were adopted in 2015. Finland’s focus will be on sustainable development of the Arctic region.

US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet in Helsinki on Monday 16 July 2018. The meeting will be hosted by President of the Republic of Finland Sauli Niinistö.

Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Anne-Mari Virolainen will visit Baku, Azerbaijan, on 5 July 2018.

The EU Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) will meet in Luxembourg on 25 June.

Lemi, a municipality with some 3000 inhabitants in rural Southeast Finland, came out as the winner in the month-long Capital of Metal competition for the world capital of heavy metal music. The Capital of Metal title is awarded to the city with the most metal bands per capita. After a tight contest with the Finnish city of Joensuu, Lemi finally won the title with a clear score.

Minister for Nordic Cooperation Anne Berner will attend a meeting of Ministers for Nordic Cooperation in Lund on 20 June 2018.