Raimonds Vējonis
Valsts prezidents pasniedz Triju Zvaigžņu ordeni Somijas ārkārtējam un pilnvarotajam vēstniekam Latvijā
President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis presented the Order of the Three Stars to H.E. Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Finland to the Republic of Latvia Mr Olli Kantanen for the significant contribution to the promotion and strengthening of bilateral relations between Latvia and Finland on 31 July 2018.

The Chapter of Order has decided to award the Order of the Three Stars, Class III, to Mr Olli Kantanen and appoint him as a Commander of the Order of the Three Stars.

Ambassador of Finland Olli Kantanen started working in Latvia in 2014. During the farewell visit of the Ambassador of Finland, the President of Latvia appreciated the close political dialogue between Latvia and Finland, active bilateral relations and the exchange of high-level official visits. The Embassy of Finland in Latvia and Ambassador Olli Kantanen engaged in preparation of each visit personally.

In 2017, celebrating the centenary of Finland, the Embassy of Finland in Latvia hosted several cultural and artistic events, for instance, concerts of the Latvian National Armed Forces Orchestra in Valmiera and Jelgava under the guidance of Conductor of the Finnish Defence Forces Orchestra Jirki Koskinen and Finland was represented on the Days of Nordic Films in Riga and Daugavpils. There was an opportunity to see an exhibition of outstanding Finnish designer Tapio Virkala “Poetry in Glass, Porcelain, and Silver” in the Museum of Decorative Arts and Design. With the support of the Embassy of Finland in Latvia, a documentary evidence exhibition “Finnish Jegers in Latvia” was created in Liepaja.

Facilitation of economic contacts and business contacts plays a significant role in the bilateral relations between Latvia and Finland. Activities by Finnish investors are especially appreciated in Latvia. For example, Finnish companies Lindstrom and Fazer have invested in Latvia.

One should also note that Mr Olli Kantanen has been active in the regions and cities of Latvia as well.