“We need Indian talent,” says Labor Minister Tuula Haatainen
Finnish Labor Minister Tuula Haatainen, who was on a visit to India last week, has said that her country would like to get more Indian talent and has shortened the permit period for faster movement of people. Speaking exclusively to our diplomatic correspondent Sidhant Sibali, Minister Haatainen said: “It is very important that we exchange experts and that India can come to Finland to live a normal life, find work.”
During the visit to India, the Minister met Foreign Minister V. Muraleedharan when both sides signed a joint declaration of intent on migration and mobility. The signed mobility agreement makes it easier for people to move, especially from India to Finland. India has been keen to sign a mobility agreement with several countries to facilitate movement of people, the last such agreement was signed with Germany earlier this month.
According to Indian government estimates, there are approximately 15,469 people of Indian origin living in Finland (7,231 nationals and 8,232 OCIs). The majority live in the capital, Helsinki, and the surrounding areas. In recent years, Indian professionals have been employed in high-tech companies. About 1,200 Indian students are pursuing higher education. About half complete master’s degrees and the other in doctoral programs.
WION: What is the most important focus for you during your trip to India?
Tuula Haatainen: The main focus is cooperation with India, because Finland needs talents, and we see India as a very important partner country, and the purpose of this visit was also to meet Indian ministers. I had the opportunity to meet them and realized that we have a common vision on the matter. It is very important that we exchange talent and that people from India can come to Finland to live a normal life, find work.
WION: You signed an agreement on mobility, what is the main focus of the agreement?
Tuula Haatainen: The main focus is now on improving talent mobility. It is very important that now at the government level we have signed this letter of intent, this declaration of intent, and now we hope to continue the cooperation.
WION: Are you ready to welcome Indians and in what field
Tuula Haatainen: Especially in IT, technology, skilled people. Overall, the technology sector is very important. It is estimated that we need 130,000 professionals of various levels in the technology sector, and IT is very important because Finland is a very advanced country in digitalization. Then we need people in the healthcare industry, we need nurses. This is an issue I have discussed with my Indian colleague.
WION: How do Finland and India plan to increase people-to-people movement and trade..
Tuula Haatainen: We are now focusing on speeding up entry to Finland, so we shortened the permit process. Now experts and startups with their families can get permits in two weeks. As a whole, the permit processes will be shortened by one month for others. We also focus on how people integrate into Finnish society. For example, a spouse program so that if the couple comes to Finland, the family gets a job.