Welcome to the website of the Embassy of Finland in Malaysia. The purpose of this site is to provide you with information about Finland and about our services.
Finland and Malaysia established diplomatic relations in 1972. Finland has had a resident ambassador in Kuala Lumpur since 1988. Our presence here is well established and it is reflected in many contacts and in excellent relations between our two countries.
The embassy works to promote trade and investment between Finland and Malaysia. The embassy is responsible for advancing diplomatic relations between our two countries by maintaining contacts with the Malaysian Government and its ministers, other agencies and keeping abreast of Malaysian internal and foreign policy. Our other responsibilities include the promotion of cultural exchange and cooperation in the field of education. Also, the people to people contacts are of increase in this new era of networking and electronic communication. Further, the Embassy provides a variety of consular services to its clients.
My term as Ambassador of Finland in Malaysia started in September 2008. Malaysia was a new experience for me and my wife Benita, but we had heard many positive comments about the country, so we arrived with positive expectations and are looking forward to getting to know the "true Asia". My work as Finnish Ambassador gives me an excellent opportunity to learn more of this beautiful country and to promote the Finnish Malaysian relations.
Mr. Tapio Saarela
Ambassador
As an element of the Foreign Service, the network Finnish Diplomatic Missions plays a central role in the development of a safe and predictable tomorrow for every Finnish citizen. Finnish Diplomatic Missions, established in various parts of the world, provide a wide range of services for Finns and the Finnish society.
A total of 189 countries are member states of the UN. Finland has concluded diplomatic relations with 170 countries and set up an Embassy in 76 countries. In addition, Finland has 7 Permanent Representations to international organizations, such as the EU, the UN, the OSCE and the OECD. Seven Consulates are headed by a Consul General. The fields of responsibility of non-resident Ambassadors and of the four Roving Ambassadors appointed to work in Helsinki cover 61 other countries.
The operation of Diplomatic Missions abroad is governed by public international law, established in the Vienna Conventions on Diplomatic and Consular Relations.
The Embassy of Finland in Kuala Lumpur aims at promoting the relations between Finland and Malaysia in many ways; the Embassy monitors the rights and interests of the Finnish Government, companies and citizens, and keeps the political decision-makers in Finland informed about developments in Malaysian domestic and foreign policy. The Embassy also promotes the knowledge about Finland in Malaysia, including cultural exchange and cooperation.
