Marko Tiesmäki | Nokia's Journey In China & Promoting The Finland-China Trade Relationship

The Negotiation

In this episode of The Negotiation podcast, we are delighted to speak with Marko Tiesmäki, the China Country Director for Business Finland. Before his current role in promoting trade between Finland and China, Marko held China leadership roles at Nokia and Airbus

In our conversation with Marko, we gain valuable insights from his experiences working in China in the 1990s for Nokia. Marko shares his views on the growth of mobile technology in China, broader social and economic changes in China over the past three decades, and the potential for Finnish companies to thrive in the Chinese market, especially in areas such as green energy. We explore the importance of personal connections and community, whether it's building relationships with Chinese partners or bonding over a shared love of hockey. We also touch on the challenges of doing business in China, such as the growing strength of local competition, the importance of adapting to changes in the industry, and much more. Enjoy!

Topics Discussed and Key Points:

• Evolution of mobile connectivity
• Rapid economic development and Urbanization in China
• Acquisition of Alcatel-Lucent by Nokia
• The importance of maintaining market position in China, particularly after mergers
• Nokia's evolving market position
• China - the ultimate testing ground of a company's fitness and resilience
• Three major phases of change in China's development and policies
• Finland's business relationship with China and opportunities in green energy and energy transition
• The hockey community in Beijing