Republic of Finland
Brazil and Finland established diplomatic relations in 1929. The two countries maintain friendly relations and converge on many issues on the international agenda. Finland supports Brazil's claim for a permanent seat on a reformed United Nations Security Council, and the two countries agree on the need to promote the updating of global governance bodies.
Brazil is Finland's main trading partner in Latin America. In 2019, the bilateral trade flow was $ 684 million, with Brazil importing $ 473 million and exporting $ 210 million. Brazil’s top export is coffee, while imports are dominated by mechanical machines.
Cooperation in science, technology and innovation is one of the main axes of the bilateral relations. With an economy focused on generating knowledge and innovation, Finland contributes to the Brazilian effort to promote research, in coordination with the productive sectors, in order to reach a new level of competitiveness.
The cultural side of the relationship is promising. Demand for learning the Portuguese language in its Brazilian variant has increased, with continuous growth in enrollment at the Brazil-Finland Cultural Center of the Brazilian Embassy in Helsinki. For more than two decades Finland has been organizing its own carnival, after that of Brazil, with parades of samba schools and balls. The country has more than ten capoeira groups.
The Brazilian community in Finland has grown in recent years. It is estimated that there are currently about 2,000 Brazilians living in the country, half of them in the metropolitan area of the capital. There are significant communities in Tampere and Turku, important economic and technological centers, where Brazil has honorary consulates.
Chronology of bilateral relations
2020 – Political Consultation Meeting (by videoconference)
2019 – Political Consultation Meeting in Helsinki
2017 – Opening of Finnish Consulate in São Paulo
2017 – Minister of Economic Affairs, Mika Lintilä, visits Brazil
2016 – President Sauli Niinistö visits Brazil on the occasion of the Olympic Games
2016 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Timo Soini, visits Brazil
2015 – President Dilma Rousseff visits Finland
2013 – The Minister of Education and Science, Krista Kiuru, visits Brazil
2013 – The Minister of Economic Affairs, Jan Vapaavuori, visits Brazil
2011 – Political Consultation Meeting in Helsinki
2009 – The Minister of Foreign Trade and Development, Paavo Väyrinen, visits Brazil
2008 – Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen visits Brazil
2007 – President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visits Finland
2006 – The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, Juha Korkeaoja, visits Brazil
2006 – President Tarja Halonen visits Brazil
2004 – The Minister of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade, Luiz Fernando Furlan, visits Finland
2003 – President Tarja Halonen visits Brazil
2002 – Vice President Marco Maciel visits Finland
2002 – The Minister of Foreign Trade, Jari Villén, visits Brazil
2001 – The Minister of Transport and Communications, Olli-Pekka Heinonen, visits Brazil
2000 – The Minister of Communications, João Pimenta da Veiga, visits Finland
1998 – The Minister of Trade and Industry, Antti Kalliomaki, visits Brazil
1997 – President Matti Ahtissari visits Brazil
1996 – The Minister of European Affairs and Trade, Ole Norrback, visits Brazil
1996 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tarja Halonen, visits Brazil
1990 – The Minister of Foreign Trade, Pertti Salolainen, visits Brazil
1986 – The Minister of Foreign Trade, Jerme Laine, visits Brazil
1986 – Prime Minister Taisto Kalevi Sorso visits Brazil
1983 – The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pär Stenbäack, visits Brazil
1940 – Authorization by President Getúlio Vargas of the donation of 10,000 bags of coffee to Finland during the Winter War
1938 – Opening of the Embassy of Brazil in Helsinki
1929 – Establishment of diplomatic relations
1919 – Brazil recognizes Finland’s independence
1876 – D. Pedro II visits the South of the Grand Duchy of Finland (Autonomous Grand Duchy of the Russian Empire)