EK Ambassador Awards 2026: Recognition for Teemu Tanner in Norway and Team Finland Mercosur

Entrepreneurs of the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK have recognized Team Finland professionals who have delivered outstanding results in advancing Finnish exports and the internationalization of SMEs. The 2026 Ambassador Awards are given to Teemu Tanner, Finland’s Ambassador to Norway, and the Team Finland Mercosur. In addition, an honorary mention for the Team Finland Achievement is awarded to the teams at Finnvera and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, who, in cooperation with the business community, have worked to secure EU guarantees for Ukraine reconstruction for Finland as one of the first export credit agencies in Europe.

Finland is at a decisive moment, as export growth is driving a turnaround in the entire economy. According to EK’s research, as many as 6,000 SMEs are currently considering internationalization, note Anne Kangas (Hoitokoti Päiväkumpu), Chair of the EK Delegation of Entrepreneurship, and Bengt Westerholm (Beweship), Chair of the EK SME Internationalization and Reform Working Group:

“Both export companies and export promotion professionals should put everything on the line to turn the strong growth momentum now under way into export deals. This will happen when Finland acts as one team in support of SMEs.”

“Alongside companies’ bold first steps and ambitious sales efforts, Finland’s export promotion services and their development both internationally and domestically now play a key role in the successful internationalization of SMEs and in broadening Finland’s export base.”

At the core of Team Finland are the network’s professionals: the teams led by Ambassadors around the world, as well as the organizations serving SMEs here in Finland. Entrepreneurs of the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK thank these excellent professionals for their valuable contribution to Finnish exports.

Ambassador Award Recipients 2026

Teemu Tanner, Finland’s Ambassador to Norway
Ambassador Teemu Tanner has achieved outstanding results in leading Team Finland cooperation, which has had a positive impact on companies and the services they receive. Tanner has brought export promotion professionals together in seamless cross-administrative cooperation, listening to companies’ needs and advancing the interests of Finnish exports. Tanner has strengthened awareness in Norway of Finland’s offering and encouraged Finnish companies to seize the significant export potential of Norway, one of Finland’s neighbouring markets.

Team Finland Mercosur
The Mercosur trade agreement opens historic export opportunities for Finland in Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Team Finland Mercosur has ambitiously strengthened Finland’s export promotion services for the new era. The professionals led by Finland’s Ambassador to Brazil, Antti Kaski, and Finland’s Ambassador to Argentina, Nicola Lindertz, work with a strong company-oriented approach and demonstrate exemplary Team Finland cooperation across the vast continent.

Honorary mention for the Team Finland Achievement: Finnvera’s and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs’ SISU financing programme
The teams at Finnvera and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs have carried out bold, solution-oriented advocacy and preparatory work, as a result of which Finnvera will become one of the first export credit agencies in Europe to channel EUR 240 million in export guarantees for Ukraine reconstruction by Finnish companies. In addition, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be able to offer millions of euros in EU grant funding for technical feasibility studies related to reconstruction. Cooperation with the business community has been strong from the very beginning of the project. This opening now provides an opportunity for significant additional EU funding in the future.