Finland and Central Asia

Finland’s cooperation with Central Asianstates is mostly based on development assistance, but diplomatic and economic ties are increasing. Several international and EU development projects have been supported by Finnish funding and expertise. Areas in which Finnish expertise and support have benefited Central Asia include high-quality technology, rule of law, water management and border control.

Finland opened its first embassy in Central Asia in 2010, in Astana, and the Kazakhstani embassy in Helsinki was opened in autumn 2012. These diplomatic links match Finland’s wider political role in Central Asia, since Finland has particularly close economic and political relations with Kazakhstan. Trade and diplomatic relations between Finland and the other four Central Asian states remain very limited. However, Finland has given significant development assistance to countries in the region, especially to Kyrgyzstan.