Freight |forwarding|shipping} in Finland is able to make use of an effective transport infrastructure that confirms its strategic position as a gateway for international freight to Russia and the Baltic. The transport system in Finland benefits from both an efficient rail and road network,used by a great number of freight forwarders and shipping companies. Finland's own internal system for moving goods and services is also very well run. Finland has over fifty maritime shipping ports, of which more than ten are to be found adjacent to inland waterways which are linked to the Baltic Sea by the Saimaa Canal.In excess of twenty seaports are operational year round. Fifteen Finnish ports handle freight forwarding during its movement across Finland. These maritime ports can between them handle a wide range of cargo types and no shipping company should come across any problem at all in respect of their international freight. The ten biggest merchant shipping handle more than 75 percent of all seaborne freight movements. The ports near the land border with Russia (Hamina, Kotka, and Mustola) tend to focus on international freight such as forestry goods and bulk cargo. All the seaports in Finland are fully automated and totally secure, continually delivering fast and problem-free loading and unloading services. So freight services are reliable and cost-effective, making trade with Finland an attractive option for a large number of companies.It is after all to be expected that Finland would have a first class} transport infrastructure and efficient freight forwarding as Finland is a highly industrialised, mixed economy. The per capita output in Finland is equal to that of other western economies such as France, Germany, Sweden or the U.K.. Although services make up by far the biggest part of the home economy, manufacturing and refining account for 31.4 percent of Gross Domestic Product. With regards to exports, the main economic area is manufacturing, which is the lifeblood of the freight services industry in Finland. Looking at the big picture, the biggest industries are electronics (twenty one point six percent), machinery, vehicles and other engineered metal products (21.1 percent, forest industry (thirteen point one percent), and chemicals (10.9 percent). The area around Helsinki alone accounts for a third of the total Gross Domestic Product of Finland and this means freight transport options are high in the Helsinki area, with many a freight company and shipping company having selected this area for their operations.In a 2004 OECD report, high-technology manufacturing in Finland was only higher in Ireland. Finland also has the 4th biggest knowledge economy in Europe, behind Sweden, Denmark and the UK. This is itself a good indicator of the health of the freight forwarding industry as well established knowledge economies tend to encourage progress and there is often a correlation with this and vibrant manufacturing industries. Finland is a strong player in the worldwide economy. The country looks to the world stage and international trade accounts for thirty three percent of GDP. In common with other countries in the European Union, trading within the European Union countries dominates its trading situation and freight services are therefore especially well developed within Europe. The European Union makes up 60 percent of the total trade. Most export trade is with Germany, Russia, Sweden, UK, China, USA and Holland.Trade policy is handled by the European Union, where Finland has always been with the free trade supporters, With the exception of agriculture. Finland is in fact the only Nordic country to have entered the Euro zone.So Finland is in a good position to trade both within the bounds of Europe and further afield and its transport infrastructure and freight services industry are geared up to help it maximise its performance.
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shipping in Finland is able to benefit from an effective transport infrastructure that confirms its strategic position as an entry point for international freight to Russia and the Baltic.
Stephen Willis is Managing Director of RW Freight Services a UK based freight transport company, established in 1971 and operating worldwide freight forwarding services including specialist freight services to and from Finland
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