Operations like that require familiarity with circumstances in the relevant markets. Our logistic links are among Helsinki's trump cards in other respects too. This is the first Western European city for people arriving by air from Asia and there are good connections from here to everywhere. The European Union has paid special attention to the location of Finland and naturally also Helsinki between the vast energy resources of northern Russia and the markets for them in Central Europe. Helsinki wants to perform the tasks that geography assigns her in this respect as well as possible.
Traffic is often the most awkward problem afflicting big cities.
Helsinki, by contrast, has a public transport system that is quite justifiably a great source of pride. More than 80 per cent of people use it during the rush hours. There has been no need to force people to use public transport, they have been attracted to it. Another of Helsinki's big assets is its reputation as a safe city . Look, she said, that's our foreign minister going into a shop.