Team Finland Garden Party 2025

On June 12th, the Embassy of Finland in Riga opened the gates to its beautiful garden for the 11th annual Team Finland Garden Party—a true summer tradition!

Hosted by Ambassador Anne Saloranta and the Embassy of Finland in Riga in collaboration with the Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Latvia (FCCL) and other partners, the event brought together FCCL members and other distinguished guests for an evening of connection, celebration, and yes... authentic Nordic weather!

Last year, we had the honor of welcoming President of Finland Alexander Stubb. This year, right before Garden Party, representatives of the biggest FCCL member companies had a "business coffee" meeting with Governor of Bank of Latvia Mr. Martins Kazaks.

The Garden Party began with warm welcome speeches from Ambassador Anne Saloranta and FCCL Chairperson of the Board Valerija Varna, and FCCL member and advisor at the Embassy Arnis Pooks, setting the tone for a Garden Party full of engaging conversations and shared purpose.

And what’s a garden party without a little excitement? A traditional lottery brought some extra energy to the event, with wonderful prizes generously donated by FCCL member companies and other partners.

Despite some drops of rain our guests embraced the atmosphere with true sisu*.

Finnish business spirit runs deep, and this was a perfect reminder!

The traditional Team Finland Garden Party, celebrated for its vibrant atmosphere and excellent networking opportunities, was made possible through the generous support of Team Finland partners in Latvia. The event featured delicious food, refreshing drinks, and engaging entertainment.

Thank you to the generous partners of the Garden Party! Key corporate partners included OP Corporate Bank PLC, Stockmann Riga, Tietoevry, and Patria Latvia.

Additional support came from a wide range of companies and organizations, including:  Anora Latvia SIA, Cēsu Alus, Fazer Latvija, the Finnish-Latvian Trade Association, Fiskars Latvija, G4S Latvija, Hesburger, ISKU, Leinonen Group, OP Corporate Bank plc Latvijas filiāle, Patria Latvija, SOL Baltics, Tietoevry, Kaski, Nordic Sauna, Lindström Latvia, L Tips Agency, Stockmann Riga, YIT Latvija, and Valio International.

It was a fantastic networking evening, with FCCL members enjoying the opportunity to connect with one another and with the wider community of friends and partners.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make this year’s Team Finland Garden Party a truly memorable and successful event.

Photos: Janis Porietis (www.janisphoto.com), Finnish Chamber of Commerce in Latvia, Hestia Hotel Group, Lindstrom Latvia, HRX Latvija

*Finnish sisu is a unique Finnish concept that doesn’t have a direct translation, but it broadly refers to extraordinary determination, grit, courage, and resilience in the face of adversity. It's about pushing forward and refusing to give up. Sisu is deeply ingrained in Finnish identity and often seen as a national trait—quiet strength, mental toughness, and the ability to keep going through hard challenges. It's not just bravery in a moment, but sustained courage and resolve over time.