FINLAND : A SUCCESS STORY
The gift of being blessed...

As the saying goes that 'every challenge brings a new opportunity', the issue of Climate Change is not going to be an exception. Beyond everyone's surprise, the issue has created such havoc and fear in the minds of people that it has emerged as an undoubted challenge of this decade. What is more interesting to notice is the fact that when people were going gaga over global warming, the world was also hit hard by recession and global economic downturn. Unemployment was rising sky high in the US and other developed countries. Governments didn’t have many options other than banking reforms and a few short term solutions. Rapid job losses, especially in developed economies forced governments to create more jobs. There was also not much scope for investment in infrastructure development as they are already developed. Amidst this, the issue of Climate Change was supposed to be the biggest blow but it actually opened the gateway and gave ray of hope. President Obama's single most severe challenge to provide jobs to the jobless became a great hope when the US President Obama announced to create 5 million green collar jobs in the US. The UK's environmental industries also employ some 400,000 people. Millions of jobs created, billions of dollars invested in R&D and to innovate new technologies across the world.

Well, this is one part of the story. The other interesting part is that Western economies are again converting it into an opportunity and making business sense out of it. And it is not the first time. A revisit to the history reveals that when industrialisation was imperative, they were the ones to move first towards industrialisation. And today, when on one hand, their manufacturing sector is saturating and on the other hand, the world is also in dire need of energy saving methods and new technologies, explore renewable energy sources to avoid Climate Change; they are the ones to move first again. And third world countries, including India who were mute spectators of western industrial revolution then in the 18th century have not changed much. Though individual companies are flourishing, not many movements are witnessed. Finland and India are classic examples of this trend. A short recall to the Finnish History shows that 90 per cent of the population of today’s one of the most prosperous, stable and competitive nations, Finland were dependent on agriculture before they realised the need of industrialisation. And their freedom struggle was not smooth. It was in fact, harder as they had to fight against two great powers, Germany and Russia. The casualties during World War II in Finland were massive. Despite all odds, they changed the history of developement and proved how to prosper amidst all odds. Even today, when challenges like ageing population (the median age is over 41, half of the voters reached over 51), saturaing manufacturing sector along with many other challenges, it is finding new opportunities in clean-tech industries. What is truly amazing to notice is that Finland Government has created a Clean-tech brand of its own to promote its companies across the world, especially in big consumer countries like China, America, India, and Central Asia and Middle East regions. Over 1,300 Finnish companies are making billions each year. Similarly, a few individual companies are thriving in India but the country as a whole is lacking severely.

Success is all about 'doing the right thing at the right time'. It is applicable in case of nations as much as in case of individuals. When tiny countries like Finland can find opportunity in a challenge, we, in spite of having so many advantages, must not lag behind. But alas! No one cares!