Opening doors – to Germany and the world

Finnish Companies use the German Export Network

Ever heard of the AHK network? You should if your company wants to go international. It’s Germany’s export network, but since 2017 its services are open also to Finnish companies. A number of Finnish companies has already entered new markets successfully with help of the local AHK. The network opened up to Finnish companies based on an agreement by the Finland Chamber of Commerce, the German Central Chamber of Industry and Commerce, and the German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce, in Finland also known as Saksalais-Suomalainen Kauppakamari.

Germany shares its export strength

The German-Finnish Chamber of Commerce (AHK Finnland) normally 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. Nowadays, they are also the Finnish contact point to the worldwide AHK network. Located in Helsinki, the 30 people staff serve customers in Finnish, German, and English and offer companies individual services from market analysis to full Go-To-Market projects and founding a company in Germany. Since 2017, they also open doors to the vast network of German Chambers Abroad (AHK). The network has an extraordinary reputation worldwide, the Wall Street Journal called it "The Secret Weapon of the German Economy" in an article in 2013. “German export promotion has rested on the shoulders of chambers of commerce. Since the opening of the network in 2017, Finnish companies can use the same services at the same conditions as German companies”, says Jan Feller, managing director of AHK Finnland. “The bandwith of projects for Finnish companies have ranged from finding M&A partners in Europe to customer acquisition in Asia and door-opening to ministries in various countries”.

Finnish companies have successfully entered new markets with the AHK network

Finnish companies already used the network to successfully gain ground abroad. 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 to go to 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 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 it works in practice: Get in touch with AHK Finnland

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. A hint: Many small and middle-sized companies use Business Finland funding to cover up to 50 per cent of the costs.

For more information, contact AHK Finnland.

Photographer: Nataliya Vaitkevich / source: Pexels