Latvia’s Honorary Consul in Finland’s Lahti, Topi Paananen: 'Small steps still matter'

Latvia and Finland may be separated by the Baltic Sea, but their connections run deep – historically, culturally, and economically. In Lahti, those ties are reinforced by Topi Paananen, the Honorary Consul of Latvia in the Finnish city, who works to connect people, businesses, and institutions across borders. “The world has become smaller on a regional scale, and Baltic–Finnish ties are strengthening year by year. This is visible in business, tourism, and especially education,” Paananen, who serves as CEO of Peikko Group Corporation, a global supplier of concrete connections and composite structures headquartered in Lahti, told The Baltic Times Magazine.

As honorary consul of Latvia in Lahti, how do you see your role in strengthening ties between Latvia and Finland, particularly at the regional level? Are there any Latvians in Lahti?
In the current security environment, ties between the Baltic countries and Finland are naturally growing, especially in the context of NATO. This cooperation also opens new, practical commercial links. At the regional level, relationships are built by people, organizations, and companies – my duty is to help along this journey. And yes, there are many Latvians in Lahti, some even working in Peikko offices.

What kinds of consular or cultural issues come up most often in your work, and how do you balance those with your business responsibilities?
I see the role of honorary consul as a meaningful hobby, a way to support Latvian companies in Finland and vice versa. Since Latvia has a relatively large embassy in Helsinki, I don’t deal with practical diplomatic issues. That makes it easy to balance this position with my business activities.

Have you noticed any emerging new opportunities for cooperation between Latvia and Finland in trade, education, or culture?
The world has become smaller on a regional scale, and Baltic–Finnish ties are strengthening year by year. This is visible in business, tourism, and especially education. Latvian universities are playing an important role, particularly in training Finns in medicine.

How does your business background and life experience influence the way you approach your duties as a consul?
At 54, I’ve gained perspective from both business and life. I remember very well when the Baltic countries were part of the Soviet Union, and it’s important to keep that in mind. My business background has given me a wide network of contacts, and I can use those connections for the benefit of Latvia–Finland cooperation.

Latvia and Finland share a long history of cultural and regional ties. how do you see the role of honorary consuls in keeping these ties strong in today’s globalized world?
Each consul acts in their own way, based on experience and networks. Results are always limited – the real ties are built in businesses, schools, and cultural initiatives. Still, organizing events like a Latvian business day at a local industrial society can spark new ideas for Finnish companies. Small steps matter.

What areas of cooperation between Latvia and Finland are currently the most promising?
It’s hard to single out one sector without undervaluing others. For me, even small things matter, like Latvian novels being translated into Finnish. One book, after all, can change lives.

Is Finnish and Latvian business mentality different? in what way?
I don’t see major differences. Both nations are small and not always remembered internationally. We need to make noise about ourselves, be bold, and show confidence.

Winning Finland’s EY entrepreneur of the year award was a milestone. what personal leadership lessons did you take from that recognition?
Recognitions come and go. They can act as quality stamps for business partners and offer practical benefits. But the key lesson in business is that you can never stop running – if you do, problems will follow.

Is Peikko intending to expand its business activities in Latvia and the Baltic overall?
Peikko already has a large factory in Lithuania and offices in Estonia and Latvia. The Baltic markets are crucial, not just locally but also as a gateway to wider European projects, from Sweden to the UK. Often, when I meet Latvian customers, we talk about projects outside Latvia. And yes, Peikko will continue to grow its footprint in the Baltics – through people, investments, and learning from our smart Baltic partners.