26 Nov 2007

ASSA ABLOY honored for work in Nordic region

ASSA ABLOY won the Nordic profile prize of the year, awarded by Finland’s Swedish-language newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet and Pohjola-Norden, the Nordic Association in Finland.

Matti Virtaala, president of Abloy Oy, accepted the prize on November 5 in Helsinki. The prize was awarded by Max Arhippainen, editor-in-chief of Hufvudstadsbladet, in connection with Pohjola-Norden’s autumn seminar in Helsinki dedicated to globalization and the challenges of an ageing population.

Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, who took to the floor, said: “The Nordic countries…  have grown in competitiveness through free trade.” He said these small countries have needed innovation, entrepreneurship and smart people to adopt influences from other countries to maintain their competitive strength.

Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, also present, stressed the positive effects of globalization. “Both surveys and the economic development of recent years show that globalization has been more of a possibility than a disadvantage to the Nordic countries,” he said. “Finland couldn’t have done this well without international trade.”

In his speech of thanks Virtaala said: “In 1994, we realized that the Nordic countries are too small for both Abloy and Assa. We must take part in the international distribution of work.” He emphasized the importance of good relations with colleagues worldwide, and added:

“Our company is also the world’s foremost innovation generator in its field. Today, ours is a bigger market than simply locking the doors, and we know why: the world is becoming more and more insecure.”

This was the second year of the prize, the shipbuilding group Aker Yards having won in 2006. Nominations are made by Pohjola-Norden, and the final decision by Hufvudstadsbladet.