A historic window for economic growth
All Quiet on the Western Front? Not at all – western Finland is undergoing a historical industrial transformation and an investment boom. Such a window of opportunity for growth is unprecedented. Companies already operating in the region, as well as those setting up here, have announced plans for growth or even entirely new businesses.
The region is about to see a significant number of investments, largely focused on industrial sectors: new production facilities and expansions of existing plants. This includes industries like battery production, metal processing, mineral extraction, chemical manufacturing, wood, and food production. Additionally, hydrogen and ammonia plants, onshore and offshore wind power, solar energy, carbon dioxide or waste heat recovery, biogas, heat pumps, and more are in the pipeline. In other words, this is a major leap toward the green transition. Finland, after all, has the world’s most ambitious climate goals, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality by 2035.
Ostrobothnia has everything it takes to remain Finland’s export engine.
At the Chamber of Commerce, we have been collecting and maintaining data on ongoing and upcoming private investments for several years. There are dozens of projects – some in the feasibility study phase, others already under construction, some awaiting final investment decisions, and many at different stages of the permitting process. The situation is constantly evolving, but over the next ten years, the total investment volume is projected to reach approximately 20 billion euros.
Ostrobothnia has everything it takes to remain Finland’s export engine, as global megatrends strongly support the success of the region’s key industries. Renewable raw materials, products related to electrification, and top tier expertise provide outstanding opportunities for the future.
The direct employment impacts of these investments will become clearer as the projects progress. However, it is already known that they will create thousands of jobs. Since these are industrial investments, the growth will ripple across other sectors, particularly services.
Ostrobothnia is firmly focused on the future, with a large number of pioneering companies leading the way. Furthermore, the region’s education, research, development, and innovation ecosystem supports and strengthens business operations. You can learn more about these remarkable players in this publication – welcome to explore Ostrobothnia and Central Ostrobothnia!
