Date: 17^th of June 2026 at 9:00 - 10:15 Helsinki time   
Venue: Microsoft online
Registration: The event is free of charge. Participation needs registration at latest on the 15^th of June 2026. Teams link will be sent to the registered participants on the 16^th of June 2026.  

Qatar and other Gulf countries are currently offering exceptionally interesting growth opportunities for Finnish companies. Qatar is investing heavily in the reform of its economy and building a future beyond oil and gas. The country is investing in billion-dollar projects around digitalization, artificial intelligence, smart cities, healthcare, education, fintech and green energy, among other things.  

For Finnish companies, this means concrete opportunities:

• expansion into new markets
• strategic partnerships
• public and private projects
• pilots and commercialization
• access to financing and investor networks for startups and growth companies.

Qatar also acts as a gateway to the entire GCC region, whose combined market offers access to tens of millions of consumers and significant investment opportunities. 

Join the webinar to hear where the real opportunities are right now — and how Finnish expertise can build success in Qatar and the wider Middle East.  

The webinar is co-organized by the Embassy of Finland to Doha, the Finland Chamber of Commerce, Finnish-Arab Business Association, and the Helsinki Region Chamber of Commerce. 

The event is moderated by Mr. Kimmo Laaksonen, Commercial Counsellor Embassy of Finland to State of Qatar.

Program

09:00
Opening remarks
Mr. Juha Mustonen, Ambassador of Finland to State of Qatar
Ms. Päivi Pohjanheimo, Director of International Affairs & Trade, Finland Chamber of Commerce, Country Director Secretary General, ICC Finland   

09:10
Qatar as a business environment
Mr.  Juha Perälampi, Senior Advisor at Qatar University 

09:20
Business case of successful export operations (health technology): Hur Oy
Mr. Bilal Qudisat, Vice President, Hur Oy  

09:30
Qatar as an innovation environment
Mr. Hind Zaki, Director for International Affairs, Qatar RDI Council  

09:40
Business case of successful innovation cooperation: Qatar Open Innovation
Mr. Karno Tenovuo, CEO Awake.AI

09:50
Closing remarks
H.E. Mr. Mohammed Abdulla M. K. Al-Jabir, Ambassador of State of Qatar to Finland
Business Finland representative (tbc)  
Mr. Maher Khadour, Chair, Finnish-Arab Business Association

10:15
End of the event

Picture: Pixabay