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[Interview] Forging the Baltic Future: Poland, Finland, and the Power of Diplomacy in Helsinki

  • Writer: Tania Sen
    Tania Sen
  • Apr 14
  • 7 min read
Weronika Gidel-Asunmaa (Spondeo): Thank you for agreeing to this interview! It’s a pleasure to meet you again. I was wondering what convinced you to take on the role of Chargé d’Affaires in Helsinki. Was this a location or step you had always planned, or did the opportunity arise more suddenly? In the 1990s, I had my first diplomatic posting at the Polish Embassy here in Finland. By then, I had already passed the state exam in Finnish and my postgraduate thesis focused on Finland’s accession to the European Union. When the minister offered me the chance to head the Polish Embassy in Helsinki, I was pleased – it showed his confidence that I was the right person for the role, a belief I shared wholeheartedly. Since arriving in Finland last year, I have been reassured that it was the right decision. Was it planned? As the saying goes, “Man proposes, God disposes,” but in this case I believe the outcome turned out exactly as intended. When we first met at the EastCham meeting in Helsinki, I was astounded that you spoke such fluent Finnish! How long did it take you to learn the language? During my Hungarian studies at the University of Warsaw, we had two and a half years of Finnish language classes. I also attended two wonderful month-long Finnish summer schools. Then came an internship at the Polish Embassy in Helsinki in 1989, followed by six years here as press officer, among other jobs. That certainly helped my command of Finnish. My daughters used to speak Finnish with each other – and sometimes with me. We would sing together: “Äidin kasvimaalla, raparperin alla, sammakolla koti oli kultainen.” You have been Chargé d’Affaires in Helsinki for about one year now. Has the experience been what you imagined, or has anything in Finland particularly surprised you? I should start with a positive note, but honestly, the quality of some key public services has been lower than what I experienced in Poland – at least from my perspective. That said, I still see Finland and the Nordic region as overall models to aspire to. As for the geography of Helsinki, my wife and I have become very fond of Kalasatama, which didn’t exist as a residential area in the 1990s, but has now become, for us residents of Kulosaari (where the Embassy is located), a nearby foodie destination, including our favourite pub – Harbour. As the Chargé d’Affaires, you frequently attend events promoting Polish culture and business in Finland. From what you’ve seen, how do Finns perceive Poles these days and how has that changed? The opinions I hear about Poland – especially in the context of what we are doing to help war-torn Ukraine – are very encouraging. So is the recognition of Poland as a reliable NATO ally. Added to this are our – Polish and Finnish – almost identical assessments of international security and Russia’s behavior. We share a sense of community, European identity, and common values. Our prime ministers and ministers have close and frequent contact. The new president of Poland chose Finland as one of his first destinations after his election.  I am glad to see Finland’s growing interest in Poland as an economic partner and, increasingly, as an attractive tourist destination. The number of Finnish tourists visiting Poland is growing by close to 10 per cent annually. Finns are, by nature, curious about the world. I was also delighted to see several books about Poland published this year, illustrating a shift in the Finnish perception of my country. They used to appear under the title “Poland is different,” but now they are published as “Poland is the same.” Pekka Haavisto has written a beautiful book about his journey to the Białowieża Forest in Northeastern Poland. I am very curious about what Finns could learn from the Polish approach to business and life. What advice would I give to Finland? I don’t know if it’s my place to give any. But I have said before: perhaps a bit more courage in seizing what each day brings. Over the past decades, Poland has managed to avoid stagnation – even during financial crises and the pandemic. Domestic consumption has become an important driver of growth. Looking from the perspective of a diplomat and an expert on the region, what do you see as the most important strategic pillar of Polish-Finnish relations? What key areas of cooperation should dominate our relationship in the years to come to maximize the new potential of the Baltic Sea region? We obviously promote Polish economic interests, but our system of foreign economic promotion differs from yours. I don’t want to judge which is better, but personally I would prefer the diplomatic service to play a more active role. Above all, we want to promote Poland as a country at the forefront of technological progress. For example, ahead of Slush, we ran a social-media campaign through which users could learn that: Poland is a leader in the adoption of AI in Europe, and the fastest growing market for it; We have two AI factories – in Poznań and Kraków, and, together with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, are holding talks with the EU Commission about building a 3 billion euros AI Baltic Factory; Polish programmers are ranked third best globally. We facilitate contacts and networking between companies. One example is a seminar – “Security and Innovation: The Polish-Finnish Cooperation Platform” – organized by the embassy in November. The aim is to create a platform for cooperation and networking between companies and R&D institutions from Poland and Finland operating in key strategic sectors, including the defence industry, quantum technologies, satellite technologies, and other innovative fields. Poland has become the world’s 20th largest economy. Analysts predict that we may overtake the United Kingdom before long in terms of GDP per capita. The purchasing power of Poles is starting to approach the Finnish (wages are still lower, but so are prices). Our bilateral trade is approaching 7 billion euros. The image of our exports is no longer limited to “only” tasty, healthy food or beautiful furniture, but also includes IT services. Nokia and Nordea both have R&D and service centers in Poland, employing around 7,000 people each. We buy the same satellites through the Finnish-Polish company ICEYE. IQM Computers has installed Poland’s first quantum computer in Wrocław. Polish research centers cooperate with LUMI. Poland’s energy sector is developing through massive investments in nuclear and wind power. We have launched a program for small modular reactors. In 10–15 years, our energy mix should be very similar to Finland’s. What would you like your legacy in Helsinki to be – something that will genuinely strengthen Polish-Finnish relations? Security is the main strategic aspect of our relations today: political, economic, and military. The challenges we face – an aggressive Russia, climate change, technology – are also an impulse. We have both reasons and the potential and resources for the Baltic Sea region to become even more cohesive, integrated, and strong – economically and militarily. The economic rise of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland over recent decades, along with new infrastructure links, offers the prospect of an unprecedented historic success for our region. Consider that a train journey from Tallinn to Warsaw (and further to Berlin) will soon be reduced to just seven hours. This will shed new light on the feasibility of building the tunnel from Helsinki to Tallinn. Imagine a hydrogen pipeline running from Finland through the Baltic States to Poland and Germany. Let us also consider further joint ventures in quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, satellite programs, and defence industries. So, I would put it this way: in Polish-Finnish cooperation – and more broadly, throughout our region – not even the sky is the limit. If, during my current posting in Finland, through the collective effort of the entire embassy – we manage to take a couple more steps towards this vision becoming reality, I will consider my mission fulfilled. There is one more thing: I would like to see, somewhere in Helsinki, a commemorative stone of the bonds of solidarity between Poland and Finland. From Mannerheim to Solidarity, from mutual support in the struggles for national freedom to the help that Finns extended to Poles in the 1980s – support from members of the Finland–Poland Associations. Tell me your favorite Finnish dish, joke, music, and feature of the Finns and Finland? This might sound a bit quirky (ha, ha), but just after arriving in Helsinki a year ago, my first grocery shop included “karjalanpiirakat” at the top of the list. For thirty years after leaving Finland, we regularly prepared baked Rosamundas with sour cream, caviar, and finely chopped red onion – a recipe I think I picked up at Kappeli on the Esplanadi. I always get a certain feeling when I hear Finlandia or Karelia by Sibelius. My favourite entry in this year’s Eurovision was, of course, “Yksi, kaksi, kolme, sauna.” How could it be otherwise? And what I truly admire in Finns is the unique blend of national pride in your remarkable achievements and a self-critical approach toward the challenges you face – combined with a Finnish determination to address those challenges at their root, something that often goes unnoticed in many other parts of the world. This interview is part of Spondeo’s annual publication Finnish Business & Culture in Poland 2026 Expanding or operating in Poland and CEE? 🔔 Follow Spondeo for weekly insights from the Polish market 📰 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter “Business News from Poland” for a comprehensive wrap-up 📖 Explore our annual publication “Finnish Business & Culture in Poland” Need local support? We assist with sales, headhunting, M&A, market research, events, and subcontracting across Poland and the Czech Republic. #Finland #Poland #FinnishBusinessInPoland #PolishInFinland #TomaszChlon #PolandsAmbassadortoFinland #PolishFinnish #internationalrelations
This interview is part of Spondeo’s annual publication Finnish Business & Culture in Poland 2026

Opportunities rarely appear without the right preparation and timing, as Tomasz Chłoń, Poland’s Ambassador to Finland, knows well. An experienced diplomat with postings in Estonia and Slovakia, Chłoń now represents Poland’s interests in Finland at a crucial moment for the Baltic region. Serving as acting Chargé d’affaires in Helsinki while awaiting ambassadorial confirmation, he draws on decades of experience – from learning Finnish at university to nurturing bilateral trade that is now approaching 7 billion euros annually.


Tomasz Chłoń with his wife. Photo from Tomasz' private collection
Tomasz Chłoń with his wife. Photo from Tomasz' private collection

Weronika Gidel-Asunmaa (Spondeo): Thank you for agreeing to this interview! It’s a pleasure to meet you again. I was wondering what convinced you to take on the role of Chargé d’Affaires in Helsinki. Was this a location or step you had always planned, or did the opportunity arise more suddenly?

In the 1990s, I had my first diplomatic posting at the Polish Embassy here in Finland. By then, I had already passed the state exam in Finnish and my postgraduate thesis focused on Finland’s accession to the European Union. When the minister offered me the chance to head the Polish Embassy in Helsinki, I was pleased – it showed his confidence that I was the right person for the role, a belief I shared wholeheartedly. Since arriving in Finland last year, I have been reassured that it was the right decision. Was it planned? As the saying goes, “Man proposes, God disposes,” but in this case I believe the outcome turned out exactly as intended.


When we first met at the EastCham meeting in Helsinki, I was astounded that you spoke such fluent Finnish! How long did it take you to learn the language?

During my Hungarian studies at the University of Warsaw, we had two and a half years of Finnish language classes. I also attended two wonderful month-long Finnish summer schools. Then came an internship at the Polish Embassy in Helsinki in 1989, followed by six years here as press officer, among other jobs. That certainly helped my command of Finnish. My daughters used to speak Finnish with each other – and sometimes with me. We would sing together: “Äidin kasvimaalla, raparperin alla, sammakolla koti oli kultainen.”


You have been Chargé d’Affaires in Helsinki for about one year now. Has the experience been what you imagined, or has anything in Finland particularly surprised you?

I should start with a positive note, but honestly, the quality of some key public services has been lower than what I experienced in Poland – at least from my perspective. That said, I still see Finland and the Nordic region as overall models to aspire to. As for the geography of Helsinki, my wife and I have become very fond of Kalasatama, which didn’t exist as a residential area in the 1990s, but has now become, for us residents of Kulosaari (where the Embassy is located), a nearby foodie destination, including our favourite pub – Harbour.


As the Chargé d’Affaires, you frequently attend events promoting Polish culture and business in Finland. From what you’ve seen, how do Finns perceive Poles these days and how has that changed?

The opinions I hear about Poland – especially in the context of what we are doing to help war-torn Ukraine – are very encouraging. So is the recognition of Poland as a reliable NATO ally. Added to this are our – Polish and Finnish – almost identical assessments of international security and Russia’s behavior. We share a sense of community, European identity, and common values. Our prime ministers and ministers have close and frequent contact. The new president of Poland chose Finland as one of his first destinations after his election. 

I am glad to see Finland’s growing interest in Poland as an economic partner and, increasingly, as an attractive tourist destination. The number of Finnish tourists visiting Poland is growing by close to 10 per cent annually. Finns are, by nature, curious about the world.

I was also delighted to see several books about Poland published this year, illustrating a shift in the Finnish perception of my country. They used to appear under the title “Poland is different,” but now they are published as “Poland is the same.” Pekka Haavisto has written a beautiful book about his journey to the Białowieża Forest in Northeastern Poland.


I am very curious about what Finns could learn from the Polish approach to business and life.

What advice would I give to Finland? I don’t know if it’s my place to give any. But I have said before: perhaps a bit more courage in seizing what each day brings. Over the past decades, Poland has managed to avoid stagnation – even during financial crises and the pandemic. Domestic consumption has become an important driver of growth.


Looking from the perspective of a diplomat and an expert on the region, what do you see as the most important strategic pillar of Polish-Finnish relations? What key areas of cooperation should dominate our relationship in the years to come to maximize the new potential of the Baltic Sea region?

We obviously promote Polish economic interests, but our system of foreign economic promotion differs from yours. I don’t want to judge which is better, but personally I would prefer the diplomatic service to play a more active role. Above all, we want to promote Poland as a country at the forefront of technological progress. For example, ahead of Slush, we ran a social-media campaign through which users could learn that:


  • Poland is a leader in the adoption of AI in Europe, and the fastest growing market for it;

  • We have two AI factories – in Poznań and Kraków, and, together with Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, are holding talks with the EU Commission about building a 3 billion euros AI Baltic Factory;

  • Polish programmers are ranked third best globally.


We facilitate contacts and networking between companies. One example is a seminar – “Security and Innovation: The Polish-Finnish Cooperation Platform” – organized by the embassy in November. The aim is to create a platform for cooperation and networking between companies and R&D institutions from Poland and Finland operating in key strategic sectors, including the defence industry, quantum technologies, satellite technologies, and other innovative fields. Poland has become the world’s 20th largest economy. Analysts predict that we may overtake the United Kingdom before long in terms of GDP per capita. The purchasing power of Poles is starting to approach the Finnish (wages are still lower, but so are prices). Our bilateral trade is approaching 7 billion euros. The image of our exports is no longer limited to “only” tasty, healthy food or beautiful furniture, but also includes IT services. Nokia and Nordea both have R&D and service centers in Poland, employing around 7,000 people each. We buy the same satellites through the Finnish-Polish company ICEYE. IQM Computers has installed Poland’s first quantum computer in Wrocław. Polish research centers cooperate with LUMI. Poland’s energy sector is developing through massive investments in nuclear and wind power. We have launched a program for small modular reactors. In 10–15 years, our energy mix should be very similar to Finland’s.


What would you like your legacy in Helsinki to be – something that will genuinely strengthen Polish-Finnish relations?

Security is the main strategic aspect of our relations today: political, economic, and military. The challenges we face – an aggressive Russia, climate change, technology – are also an impulse. We have both reasons and the potential and resources for the Baltic Sea region to become even more cohesive, integrated, and strong – economically and militarily. The economic rise of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland over recent decades, along with new infrastructure links, offers the prospect of an unprecedented historic success for our region.

Consider that a train journey from Tallinn to Warsaw (and further to Berlin) will soon be reduced to just seven hours. This will shed new light on the feasibility of building the tunnel from Helsinki to Tallinn. Imagine a hydrogen pipeline running from Finland through the Baltic States to Poland and Germany. Let us also consider further joint ventures in quantum technologies, artificial intelligence, satellite programs, and defence industries. So, I would put it this way: in Polish-Finnish cooperation – and more broadly, throughout our region – not even the sky is the limit. If, during my current posting in Finland, through the collective effort of the entire embassy – we manage to take a couple more steps towards this vision becoming reality, I will consider my mission fulfilled.

There is one more thing: I would like to see, somewhere in Helsinki, a commemorative stone of the bonds of solidarity between Poland and Finland. From Mannerheim to Solidarity, from mutual support in the struggles for national freedom to the help that Finns extended to Poles in the 1980s – support from members of the Finland–Poland Associations.


Tell me your favorite Finnish dish, joke, music, and feature of the Finns and Finland?

This might sound a bit quirky (ha, ha), but just after arriving in Helsinki a year ago, my first grocery shop included “karjalanpiirakat” at the top of the list. For thirty years after leaving Finland, we regularly prepared baked Rosamundas with sour cream, caviar, and finely chopped red onion – a recipe I think I picked up at Kappeli on the Esplanadi. I always get a certain feeling when I hear Finlandia or Karelia by Sibelius. My favourite entry in this year’s Eurovision was, of course, “Yksi, kaksi, kolme, sauna.” How could it be otherwise? And what I truly admire in Finns is the unique blend of national pride in your remarkable achievements and a self-critical approach toward the challenges you face – combined with a Finnish determination to address those challenges at their root, something that often goes unnoticed in many other parts of the world.


This interview is part of Spondeo’s annual publication Finnish Business & Culture in Poland 2026


Expanding or operating in Poland and CEE?

🔔 Follow Spondeo for weekly insights from the Polish market

📰 Subscribe to our monthly newsletter “Business News from Poland” for a comprehensive wrap-up

📖 Explore our annual publication “Finnish Business & Culture in Poland”

Need local support? We assist with sales, headhunting, M&A, market research, events, and subcontracting across Poland and the Czech Republic.





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