The first Ukrainian office of the Finnish economic development agency Business Tampere, which represents the Tampere region in Finland, is to open in Lviv. The opening is scheduled for Thursday, 17 September. The representative office will support Finnish companies entering the Ukrainian market, seeking partners and implementing joint projects.
The decision to establish an office in Lviv was discussed during a visit by a delegation from the Investment Office of the Lviv City Council to Tampere. The head of the Investment Office, Andriy Pavliv, presented to partners the approaches and priorities of the Lviv City Council’s work under the conditions of full-scale war.
Business Tampere explains that it chose Lviv because of the city’s openness to international cooperation, its dynamic development, as well as its advantageous geographical and logistical location. The plan is to create a hub here for Finnish companies operating in Ukraine.
«We see many opportunities for Ukraine and our Ukrainian partners, and we want to build cooperation between companies to create new value. Lviv is a very dynamic city, well located from a logistics point of view, so in many respects it is an excellent hub for us. This will already be our second international office. The first we opened in Brussels. We chose Lviv because it is a city that is constantly developing, focused on international cooperation, with good logistics and a favourable location,» said Business Tampere CEO Harri Ojala.
The Finnish side identifies defence technologies as an important area of cooperation. Tampere is the central hub for defence companies in Finland, where, according to the city’s mayor Ilmari Nurminen, around 10% of employees work in this sector. Finnish partners are keen to exchange experience with Ukraine, in particular regarding the impact of the war on society and the functioning of the economy.
Business Tampere expects the Lviv office to ensure stable and systematic cooperation between Finnish and Ukrainian businesses. The representative office is to become a permanent point of contact for Finnish companies that are already operating in Ukraine or are only planning to invest and enter the market.
Harri Ojala stresses that interest among Finnish companies in Ukraine has already taken shape: some enterprises are involved in projects and supply products, while others are exploring investment opportunities. Finnish business delegations have visited Ukraine on numerous occasions and have experience of working with Ukrainian partners.
Among the key areas where they see potential for joint projects are the defence sector and dual-use technologies, participation in UNBROKEN projects, energy and the circular economy. Business Tampere notes that Finnish companies already have ready-made solutions for some of the challenges faced by their Ukrainian partners, so combining experience can deliver practical results.
The Lviv City Council expects that the arrival of the Business Tampere office will strengthen cooperation with Finnish companies in various sectors. Andriy Pavliv emphasises that for Lviv, Finland’s technical and scientific potential is important, and the opening of the representative office is a logical step in developing the city’s international ties and implementing large-scale projects, particularly those related to recovery during the war.
For Lviv, the partnership with Tampere also has a security dimension, as Finland shares a border with Russia and a common understanding of the threats. Cooperation can become a platform for exchanging experience in dual-use technologies and strengthening defence capabilities.
Business Tampere highlights the long-term potential of the Ukrainian market. In its view, Ukraine is modernising rapidly, and local companies are demonstrating high rates of technological development. The Finnish side aims to help Ukrainian partners gain access to cutting-edge solutions while at the same time deepening economic integration.
Business Tampere is the economic development agency for the Tampere region, which brings together eight municipalities. It provides companies, investors and professionals with advisory, investment and sectoral services for business development, entry into international markets and establishment in the region.
Among the new areas the agency is developing are defence technologies, artificial intelligence, semiconductor manufacturing and circular energy. A key sector of the region’s economy remains the production of mobile heavy machinery for the mining industry, agriculture and other sectors.
Hundreds of technology companies and start-ups operate in Tampere, including some founded by former Nokia and Microsoft engineers. The city has a strong engineering base, universities and a developed IT sector, with priorities including artificial intelligence, renewable energy and advanced industrial technologies.