The top managers of foreign-owned companies operating in Finland are satisfied with country’s business environment, according to a new survey.

The survey mapped out the views of decision-makers of foreign companies located in Finland about the country’s business environment, and about how the public sector could support the operations of foreign companies. The survey was conducted by Taloustutkimus Oy.

Three quarters of the respondents state that operating in the Finnish market is already a smooth process. More than half say that the company they are managing is making a good profit. The respondents are quite unanimous that the availability of energy, electricity, store and business premises is at a good level in Finland. The majority (69%) also state that the availability of private business services, highly educated labour (74%) and logistical connections (68%) are good.

About half of the respondents view the cost level of highly educated labour and of store and business premises as very or quite competitive. The price level of other factors is seen as competitive by about a third of the respondents.

The target group of the survey conducted by Taloustutkimus was the decision-makers of foreign companies located in Finland. In total, 221 people responded to the survey. The data was collected through telephone interviews and email questionnaires in February – March 2013.

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Former CIA contractor Edward Snowden has carried out one of the biggest leaks in US history, exposing a top-secret NSA surveillance program to the media.

Leading tech companies were revealed to be involved in intelligence gathering through PRISM spy tool.

Follow NSA leak fallout at RT - LIVE UPDATES

The American intelligence director and the White House have finally confirmed what insiders have long known.

The Obama administration is spying on the entire world. Politicians in Germany are demanding answers.

Read the story at Spiegel Online International

After working for a large company, Swedish-born Ann Söderblom, 31, recently took the plunge from employee to entrepreneur.

Söderblom, who advises expats on how to start their own business, tells The Local why Switzerland is the perfect place to set up your own company.

Read Ann:s story here

New Citi-Commissioned EIU Report Projects Competitiveness of 120 of the World's Major Cities in 2025.

A new Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) research report, "Hot Spots 2025: Benchmarking the Future Competitiveness of Cities," commissioned by Citi, projects that São Paulo, Incheon and Mumbai will see the greatest surge in global competitiveness between 2012 and 2025.

Released today at the New Cities Summit in São Paulo, the report forecasts the competitiveness of 120 cities in 2025 based on their projected ability to attract capital, business, talent and tourists.

Read more here

Download the Report (PDF)

Gnotec has signed an agreement with Volvo Car Corporation regarding deliveries of pressed metal components to Volvo Cars’ new plant in Chengdu, China.

Based on this order, Gnotec has decided to start a new manufacturing plant in the city of Kunshan in eastern China. Preparations for the production are taking place and production is planned to start during autumn 2013.

The establishment in China is part of the offensive international drive of the group. A sales and purchasing office was set up in Shanghai during spring 2012, aiming at supporting Gnotec’s customers on the rapidly growing local market.

Stefan Ottosson, President and CEO of Gnotec, comments on the establishment: “The order from Volvo Cars is an important corner stone in the startup of our Chinese operation and makes it possible for Gnotec to take the next step in our internationalisation plan.”

Transportation and logistics services provider DB Schenker, a business unit of Germany’s Deutsche Bahn, is investing 53 million euros in a new terminal in Vantaa, Finland.

The premises, located in the Viinikkala logistics area close to Helsinki airport, will consist of about 52,300 square metres of terminal and office buildings. The terminal will operate land transport, parcel services and home deliveries as well as air and ocean freight. It is expected to be completed in July 2015.

All operations will be combined under one roof in a warm terminal hall of 25,200 square metres. Additionally there will be an unheated terminal of 3,300 square metres.

— Combining all operations in one building will improve our efficiency and productivity and streamline our cargo flows between different transport modes, says Göran Åberg, CEO of Oy Schenker East Ab, the parent company of DB Schenker Finland.

Finland already features prominently in DB Schenker’s plans. The region of East European countries, for example, is led by DB Schenker Finland.

— This new facility is one of the largest investments of DB Schenker globally and one of the largest land transport terminals in Europe, says Åberg.

Investment in the terminal will mainly be financed by a group internal loan from Deutsche Bahn.

DB Schenker has been located in the Metsälä area of Helsinki for decades but its current ground lease ends in 2015, prompting the need to build a new terminal in the capital area. The new facility will employ current staff from the Metsälä site.

— Vantaa is good for our purposes because of its location near the airport, harbour and main highways as well as the public transport for our employees, says Pasi Ripatti, communications manager for DB Schenker Finland.

In November 2012 DB Schenker opened a brand new logistics center of 24,500 square meters in Nurmijärvi municipality, 37 kilometres north of Helsinki, focusing on the automotive industry.

Together these investments in logistics services in Finland amount to about 76 million euros.

DB Schenker has some 96,000 employees in 130 countries. In the financial year 2012, it generated revenues of around 20.3 billion euros, about 52 percent of the Deutche Bahn Group’s revenues.

Through its Transportation and Logistics Division, DB holds top positions in global air and ocean freight and has Europe’s densest land transport network and the rail expertise of Europe’s largest rail freight company.

Aon Risk Solutions, the global risk management business of Aon plc (NYSE: AON), today released its 10th annual Terrorism and Political Violence Map to help companies assess risk levels of political violence and terrorism.

Produced in collaboration with global risk management consultancy The Risk Advisory Group plc, the 2013 Map is complimented by an online and interactive version providing clients a clear global and country level view on terrorism and political violence ratings.

Aon’s 2013 Terrorism and Political Violence Map points to a continued threat of a terrorist attack or political violence as 44 percent of countries measured have an identifiable risk of terrorist attacks. This trend is especially prevalent in African and the Northern African countries. Despite 19 countries showing improved terrorism and political violence ratings, including the U.K. and Germany, data and analysis reflected by the map suggest continued and growing awareness is needed for businesses looking to expand.

The three perils measured indicate the different forms of political violence most likely to be encountered by businesses:

• Terrorism and sabotage

• Strikes, riots, civil commotion and malicious damage to property

• Insurrection, revolution, rebellion, mutiny, coup d’etat, war and civil war.

Color-coded ratings of the 200 countries and territories measured act as a gauge for the overall intensity of the risk of terrorism and political violence to business in each country.

Neil Henderson, head of Aon Risk Solutions’ Crisis Management Terrorism team, said, “Terrorism is having an increasing impact on today’s global organizations and terrorist attacks are now regarded as a foreseeable risk. An attack not only on, but near an organisation’s premises can result in human casualties, property damage, business interruption, legal liability issues and long term damage to brand and reputation. The Aon Terrorism and Political Violence Map is one of a range of Aon tools that allow data and fact-based insight to support and advise companies in their efforts to be increasingly resilient in today’s quickly evolving and volatile environment. This insight allows our clients to plan overseas expansion or international growth.”

Henry Wilkinson, head of the Intelligence and Analysis practice at Risk Advisory, added, “The global economic crisis, shifting geopolitical balances and two years of unusually high levels of civil upheaval present challenges and opportunities for businesses looking to expand. North and West Africa and the Middle East stand out as regions of increasing risk. Civil wars in Libya and Syria in particular have contributed to violent risks in nearby countries. Egypt returns to the highest risk rating this year due to persistent civil tumult, political instability and terrorism. While Northern Europe has seen some improvements, evident in the U.K.’s improved rating, fiscal and economic pressures mean businesses in Southern European countries still face a higher level of risk associated with civil disruption."

The data shows:

- 11 upgrades (increased risk ratings), including Argentina, Egypt and Jordan.

- 19 downgrades (decreased risk ratings), including Germany, Italy and the U.K.

- 44 percent of countries measured have an identifiable threat of terrorism, with the worst affected being Afghanistan, India, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Russia, Somalia, Syria, Thailand and the Yemen.

- Europe has the most positive regional outlook, with 47 percent of the countries with lowered risk ratings this year. This reflects receding civil unrest associated with the financial and economic crises. Limited incidents of terrorism outside of Greece and Northern Ireland also accounted for lowered risk scores.

- Lingering after-effects of the Arab Spring on regional security and stability remain evident. The Middle East is the most unstable region, with 64 percent of its countries attaining high or severe risk ratings, reflecting terrorism, unrest and conflict risks.

- The Middle East and North Africa region witnessed the highest proportion of countries with a terrorism and sabotage peril, at 85 percent.

Methodology and resources

The map measures political violence and terrorism in 200 countries and territories to help companies assess the risk levels of exchange transfer, political violence and terrorism. Produced by Aon in collaboration with global risk management consultancy The Risk Advisory Group plc, the Aon Terrorism and Political Violence Map reflects data recorded by Terrorism Tracker*, Aon WorldAware* and an expert assessment of the security situation. Each country is assigned a threat level, starting at negligible, and rising through low, medium, high and severe.

Terrorism threat is defined as an assessment of the intent and capability for terrorist groups to stage attacks and the likelihood they will succeed.

The map can be accessed at www.aon.com/terrorismmap

Reporters Without Borders releasing a report entitled “Brazil, the country of 30 Berlusconis” that examines all of the shortcomings of this South American giant’s media landscape.

It is based on fact-finding visits to Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Brasilia in November 2012

The media topography of the country that is hosting the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics has barely changed in the three decades since the end of the 1964-85 military dictatorship.

As well as the ten or so major companies that dominate the national media and are mainly based in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, Brazil has many regional media that are weakened by their subordination to the centres of power in the country’s individual states.

The editorial independence of both print and broadcast media is above all undermined by their heavy financial reliance on advertising by state governments and agencies.

To the Report - Brazil, the country of 30 Berlusconis

Helsinki Airport has been voted the best airport in Northern Europe in 2013.

The World Airport Awards are based on surveys conducted by international travel research group Skytrax, who polled 12.1 million passengers over a nine-month period. In the category covering the whole Europe Helsinki Airport was ranked sixth and worldwide fifteenth.

Helsinki Airport is the leading Northern European transit airport connecting Europe and Asia. In 2012 the airport served 14.9 million passengers, of which 31 per cent were transfer passengers.

Helsinki Airport has been nominated the best in Northern Europe in 2010 and in previous Skytrax surveys recognition has also been given to Best Airport Security Processing and Baggage Delivery. A total of 39 services and products -- including check-in, arrivals, transfers, shopping, security and immigration -- were examined at 395 airports across the world.

Singapore’s Changi Airport was crowned the Best Airport in the world in 2013.

The EU SME Centre will be presenting a European Pavilion at the Clean Energy Expo China (CEEC) in Beijing on 3-5 July.

The European Pavilion provides a portal for European companies to the world’s largest energy market. European business will have the opportunity to increase their visibility, network with counterparts and benefit from additional useful services.

The European Pavilion also offers special budget packages to enterprises with limited financial resources. CEEC is the only cross-sector Trade Fair and Conference in China showcasing the entire clean energy portfolio. More than 20,000 trade visitors and 800 delegates are expected to attend.

Information and registration form

The US pharmaceutical company Lilly has announced that its plant in Alcobendas (Madrid) will take over the production which hitherto was carried out at its factory in Giessen, Germany.

Thus, the facility at Alcobendas, from which medicinal products worth about EUR 1,870 million are exported to 113 countries, will not only maintain, but also increase its current levels of production and employment with additional investment, reports the company.

The plant will also be diversifying its activity by adding technology for injectables, as it takes over the packaging of parenteral products that currently takes place in Giessen.

According to the president of Lilly Spain, Javier Ellena, the company’s decision to choose Spain ahead of other options to take over the production from Giessen “is due to the excellent results obtained at the Alcobendas plant” as well as the support of the Minister of Health, Ana Mato.

EUROCHAMBRES is co-organising for the second time the Global India Business Meeting taking place in Belfast (UK) on 23-25 June to debate a wide range of issues related to the Indian economy.

Poul V. Jensen, Director of the European Business Technology Centre will participate in a dialogue on planting the seeds of low carbon growth.

Register now with EUROCHAMBRES or EBTC and get 50% discount on the standard fee!

Global India Business Meeting programme

Stonesoft is a leading innovator in next-generation network firewall products.

McAfee has announced a definitive agreement to initiate a conditional tender offer for the acquisition of the Finnish company Stonesoft Oyj for an aggregate equity value of approximately USD 389 million in cash. Stonesoft is a leading innovator in next-generation network firewall products.

Based in Helsinki, Finland, Stonesoft is trusted by more than 6,500 customers across the globe. Gartner positioned the company as “visionary” in the 2013 Network Security Firewall Magic Quadrant. “With the pending addition of Stonesoft’s products and services, McAfee is making a significant investment in next-generation firewall technology. These solutions anticipate emerging customer needs in a continually evolving threat landscape,” said Michael DeCesare, McAfee President.

Fastest growing market segment

According to McAfee, next-generation firewalls solve critical customer needs and represent one of the fastest growing market segments in network security.

Stonesoft’s product portfolio of firewalls, evasion prevention systems, and SSL VPN solutions addresses businesses of all sizes. Through the pending acquisition of Stonesoft, McAfee expects to extend its leadership position in network security.

“We plan to integrate Stonesoft’s offerings with other McAfee products to realize the power of McAfee’s Security Connected strategy. Stonesoft products will benefit from the collective expertise of more than 7,200 McAfee employees,” says DeCesare. “Leveraging McAfee’s cloud-based Global Threat Intelligence service will provide our combined customers with unparalleled security.”

Source - McAfee is a wholly owned subsidiary of Intel Corporation.