Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Stubb, has flown to the Costa del Sol to inaugurate the new Finland Centre in Fuengirola. The Minister was joined by the country’s Ambassador in Spain, Markku Keinanen, as well as the Mayor of Fuengirola, Esperanza Oña.

“The Centre aims to bring together the Finnish and Spanish communities” said Stubb at the opening of the new facility which is located on Avenida de Los Boliches. “This is an important project for the Finns who are residents in this part of the country. Fuengirola has one of the largest Finnish expat communities in the world; Finns represent the third largest group of foreigners on the Spanish census,” he added.

The Marketing Manager for the commercial centre, Pauliina Manso, said: “The new centre brings together around 15 Finnish companies each offering a different product or service. There are food companies, beauty and health care firms, real estate, telecommunications, interior design and marketing…It is a meeting and information point for the whole community. The idea is to best-serve the interests of Finns in the area and bring people together.”

Manso said that “despite the weather” she was impressed by the high turn out of residents, the media and officials from both Spain and Finland. We were extremely please to welcome all the dignitaries who came from the Town Hall in Fuengirola, Madrid and Helsinki to help us celebrate the inauguration. I think this demonstrates the importance of such a centre in the heart of the Costa del Sol.” The Centre’s shops will continue to open throughout this month.

Source: Sur in English, March 12th to 18th 2010 author: George Prior