Readout of Mayor Johnson’s meeting with the Ambassador of Finland to the United States

DALLAS — Mayor Eric Johnson on Monday met with a delegation from Finland, led by Ambassador of Finland to the United States Mikko Hautala, at DFW International Airport’s headquarters.

DFW International Airport CEO Sean Donohue opened the meeting by welcoming the delegation and expressing excitement for the new Finnair direct flight between Dallas and Helsinki. Donohue introduced Mayor Johnson, who spoke about the economic growth, diversity, and dynamism of the City of Dallas and the Dallas region.

Ambassador Hautala said he believed it was important to meet in person with Dallas officials and establish face-to-face relationships. The ambassador also discussed the new Finnair direct flight and said he believes Dallas provides Finland with an opportunity to grow the country’s increasingly globalized economy. He introduced representatives from Nokia and Finnair, who said they looked forward to strengthening their ties with Dallas. Melissa Schoeb, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer of Nokia, said Nokia prioritizes attracting and retaining talent in the region.

Mayor Johnson discussed the possibility of opening a Finnish trade office in Dallas, and the ambassador said he would like to explore the opportunity further.

The mayor and ambassador also discussed the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine and the need for the international community to continue to economically isolate Russia.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mayor Johnson gave Ambassador Hautala a Dallas gift box and recorded a social media video for the Embassy of Finland in the United States. The video can be seen here.