Vision for Southern Finland ensuring growth in the entire country

The regions of Southern Finland, that is Southwest Finland, Helsinki-Uusimaa, Päijät-Häme, Kymenlaakso and South Karelia have started joint activities for promoting their common interests and advocacy within the EU. The regions have formulated a joint vision for the future, with a time span until 2040. The area covered produces more than half of Finland’s GDP and its workforce, as well as almost half of its whole population.

– Because of the changes in the operating environment, also the regions in Southern Finland have to reflect upon their own approach, both nationally and internationally, The vision of Southern Finland is based on its regional strengths, intertwining the economy with international sustainable growth and labour immigration. We are ready to encounter the future boldly, with actions to ensure the success of the whole country, Ms Niina Pautola-Mol, Regional Mayor of Päijät-Häme, says.

Six themes have been identified as the developmental spearheads

During the following decades, Southern Finland will innovatively anchor Finland onto international growth and offer the best solutions to reduce the investment barriers in Green Transition. The themes identified together strengthen Finland’s prosperity and security of supply.

– Strong and vital border regions are the best way to ensure a comprehensive security. When it comes to border security, this is highlighted in the southeast parts of Finland and in the Baltic Sea. The harbours in Southern Finland with adjoining infrastructure serve the security of supply. Consequently, we have to take good care of it all, Mr Jaakko Mikkola, Regional Mayor of Kymenlaakso, points out.

Six themes have been identified as the spearheads for development: RDI (Research, Development. Innovation), a competent workforce, transport infrastructure, comprehensive security, cohesion policy and green transition.

1. Solutions for RDI goals to be found in Southern Finland

International clusters with competent personnel ensure renewal. To keep and improve the high standard of competence, Southern Finland is putting a lot of effort on education and the reforming of continuous learning. An efficiently integrated funding model for RDI will be created for the regions, combining both the public and private sector.

2. Southern Finland is successful in the global competition for a skilled workforce

Finland’s population of working age is increasing, due to the immigration to Southern Finland. The increasing of education-based immigration is secured by permitting sales activities of the upper secondary level, as well as of the third-level education. The improvement of competence among all inhabitants, for instance by longer careers, is ensured by investing in continuous learning and a higher level of education.

3. The transport infrastructure in Southern Finland is critically important for securing the national vitality

The international and national reachability is improving, and the most important junctions of freight traffic serve the total security of supply. Sustainable transport solutions are supporting all kinds of mobility in Finland. Investments in green transition are made overall, and despite challenges in geopolitics, the economy is growing.

4. The overall security in Southern Finland is vital for the entire country

The crisis management in Southern Finland is critical for the pulling force of Finland as a whole. Services strengthening the psychological resilience to crisis in an increasing population are protected. Education is one of these. Finland in its entirety is supported by the total security of supply in its southern parts. The border security of the EU becomes more obvious at the land and sea borders in Southern Finland.

5. Effective regional development is the source of well-being all over Finland

An increasing flexibility to changes and decreasing regional differences are ensured by cohesion policy. Structural funding is used to decrease the differentiation between sub-areas. Effectiveness is highlighted in the subsidy policy. Success is achieved in labour immigration and internationalization. A strong urban policy leads to growth. The regional councils are important financiers of regional development, as they truly know the regional actors, along with the needs of the operational environment.

6. A Climate Negative Southern Finland spurring financial growth

The pulling force and competitiveness of Finland are strengthened by the investments in green transition and a fast and fair energy transmission in the south. Southern Finland has the possibility to be a pioneer in circular economy, to increase international export, to utilize the material flows and the possibilities of bioeconomy.

Read more: Find out more about the vision (in Finnish, pdf)

For more information, please contact:

Jaakko Mikkola
Regional Mayor
Kymenlaakso Regional Council
+358 40 548 0311

Eero Venäläinen
Director, Regional Development
Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council
+358 40 525 1944

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What is the Advisory Board of Southern Finland?

Members of the Advisory Board of Southern Finland are the Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, the Regional Council of Southwest Finland, the Regional Council of Päijät-Häme, the Regional Council of Kymenlaakso and the Regional Council of South Karelia. The Board furthers the cooperation and promotion of interests between the regions.

The regions take turns in chairing the Board, one year at the time. In 2024, Kymenlaakso is the chairing region. The Advisory Board includes the chairpersons of each Regional Board, as well as two regional Members of Parliaments from different parties. Included are also the Regional Mayors.

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