The Team Finland network is organizing a Forestry and Bioeconomy Team Finland visit to British Columbia and Alberta, Canada on 5-9 October, 2025.
This visit program will focus on green and effective forest management, digital forest solutions, fire mitigation, training, forestry machinery, sawmill and pulp mill systems and technologies, and bio-economical solutions utilizing biomass in heat and electricity production. The visit is co-led by Ms. Hanna-Leena Korteniemi, Ambassador of Finland to Canada and Ms. Johanna Buchert, President and CEO, Natural Resources Institute Finland (LUKE).
Opportunity
Canada holds about 11% of the world’s forested area. In British Columbia, with 55 million hectares of forests and nearly 100,000 jobs, forestry is deeply rooted in the province’s economy and identity. It is one of the world’s top exporters of wood products, including lumber, wood pellets, pulp, and biofuels.
Alberta’s forestry sector is equally important, supporting rural communities and contributing to economic diversification. Over 60% of the province is forested, mainly in the Boreal region. Sustainable forest management is a key priority, driven by legislation, regulations, and strong government-industry partnerships to balance ecological, economic, social, and cultural values.
Both provinces are working to modernize forest management and grow their bioeconomy and value-added products. Much of their forestry output is exported to the U.S., but rising tariffs have prompted local industries to boost efficiency, diversify offerings, and seek new markets. Finland and Canada share a federal Memorandum of Understanding in forestry and bioeconomy, making collaboration a shared priority.
Who should attend?
This visit provides an excellent opportunity for Finnish companies and research organizations to explore opportunities in Canada. Companies focusing on green forest management, digital forest technology, wildfire prevention, training solutions, forestry machinery, logging solutions, sawmill and pulp equipment and digital solutions related to improving efficiency and automation, and biomass derived heating and electricity production are strongly encouraged to participate.
Practicalities
To cover the expenses of arranging the visit program in Canada, Business Finland will charge participation fees of:
- Major Companies: 1250 EUR + 25,5% VAT per person
- Micro Businesses and SMEs: 1075 EUR + 25,5% VAT per person
Business Finland will invoice the participants after the visit based on the actual costs. The invoiced fee will not exceed the amounts mentioned above. Kindly note that the participation fee does not include flights or accommodation of the delegate.
Additional opportunity
The Team Finland network is also organizing a visit to Maine, USA on 21-25 September, which may also be of interest to you. You can find the invitation for the U.S. visit and read more about it here: Trade Mission to Maine, USA.
