The Chair of the Finnish-Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Mr Juha Pitkänen, has been awarded the Japanese Foreign Minister’s Commendation of 2023 for his longstanding contribution to the promotion of economic relations between Japan and Finland as a Chairman of Finland-Japan Chamber of Commerce. From Finland, also Mr Tanayama Hiroyasu received the Commendation.

Pitkänen has been a board member of the Finnish-Japanese Chamber of Commerce (FJCC) since 2005 and has served as its Chair since 2011. By utilizing his vast expertise and extensive network within the global business sector, he has played a pivotal role in enhancing the economic ties between Japan and Finland. Pitkänen has also taken an active role in organising the side activities dedicated to Japanese entrepreneurs during SLUSH, one of the world’s largest start-up events in Finland, and contributed to the success of the 2019 event celebrating the centenary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Finland.

The Foreign Minister’s Commendations are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields, in order to acknowledge their contributions to the promotion of friendship between Japan and other countries and areas. The Commendations also aim to promote the understanding and support of the Japanese public for the activities of the recipients.

You can read the press release about this year’s commendations here.