Finland is today ranked as the most innovative economy in the world. Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini recently visited Australia with a delegation of successful Finnish business leaders to discuss Finland’s tactics for innovation, in particular, being less risk-averse and investing in start-up companies.

On 29 February, HE Timo Soini visited the joint Embassy of Finland and Estonia in Canberra to oversee the grand opening  of the Estonian section and to host a forum on innovation. Margaret Goydych, of the Australian Institute of International Affairs, caught up with him beforehand to discuss Finland’s role as a leader in innovation, the potential of soft power and the European migrant crisis. 

His Excellency Timo Soini is the Deputy Prime Minister of Finland, the Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, and co-founder and leader of the Finns Party. He has served in the European Parliament, and was the most popular candidate in Finland’s most recent 2011 parliamentary elections, receiving 19.1% of all votes.

Interviewer: Margaret Goydych

Producer and editor: Leyang Wang