Opening doors to Germany and beyond – Finnish companies can utilise the German Export Network

The German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce (AHK Finnland) helps Finnish and German companies to enter markets in each other’s countries. They support with strong expertise in market research, match making and business culture knowledge. AHK Finnland offers companies individual services from market analysis to full Go-To-Market projects and founding a company in Germany. Since 2017, it also opens doors to the vast network of German Chambers Abroad (AHK).

Ever heard of the AHK network? You should, if your company intends to go international! It’s Germany’s export network, consisting of German Chambers of Commerce Abroad in 92 countries. Its services are open also to Finnish companies, through the AHK Finnland. Several Finnish companies have already entered new markets successfully with help of their local AHK.

The company Helvar decided to use the network, after their good experience with a Go-to-Market project to Germany. “We were so happy and so convinced after the program, that we actually drew the conclusion: We find out what we can do with the network of German of chambers of commerce.” They chose to try entering the Spanish market – and succeeded with the help of AHK Spain. “Exactly the same procedure was used and is as efficient as it was for us in Germany. So, I can only recommend”, stated Lars Hellström after their Go-to-market-program to Spain in 2020. Another example is the Finnish company ISKU. Isku found new business partners for their operations with the help of the AHK network in the Eastern European and Middle East market. Next to the local AHK’s business and market expertise, they often help with language and cultural barriers as well.

How does the cooperation within the network work concretely? A Finnish company first contacts the German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Helsinki, which serves in Finnish and has direct contact with all AHKs. They collect a first briefing for their colleagues abroad and establish contact. The same procedure is applied at the other AHKs for their go-to-market services as the procedure at AHK Finnland for expanding directly to Germany. You can reach out to AHK Finnland directly or attend their events, such as the one organized in the spring of 2022 exploring business opportunities in South Africa. Companies providing solutions for smart energy, smart building, smart infrastructure, and smart mobility that were interested in expanding to the South African market had the chance to hear firsthand about the opportunities by local decision makers and planners, as well as representatives of the South African AHK. During the event Finnish company cases, with experience of the South African market, were presented. This provides a concrete information package about new market opportunities within the AHK network, and you’ll be able to hear about its benefits for Finnish companies and how AHK Finnland is able to establish contact for your company for new international markets.

During the past year we’ve been through different crises that have affected the markets and industrial production, for instance problems in supply chains and the availability of components and raw materials. This offers opportunities for Finnish companies, especially as supply chains are now being re-established. Companies are looking for reliable, close by suppliers. This doesn’t only offer opportunities at the German market through the German-Finnish Chamber of commerce, but also in other international markets, through the AHK network. Reach out to the AHK Finnland to find out what possibilities lie ahead within their international network for your company.

Watch the Webinar on AHK and the possibilities they offer for Finnish companies in English here.

You can read this article in Finnish here.