Helsinki wants to make its strengths as a business environment more visible. The City-wide objectives raise the level of ambition even further.
“A vibrant Helsinki needs more successful companies, excellence and new innovations. The aim of the City of Helsinki’s new objectives for growth, skills and vitality is to ensure that Helsinki offers the best possible conditions for setting up a business, investing and developing world-class businesses. Our goal is to create a positive growth cycle in Helsinki that will be reflected in new jobs and a more vibrant Helsinki,” emphasises Daniel Sazonov, Mayor of Helsinki.
“It’s particularly important to us that Helsinki’s business friendliness becomes more visible in our cooperation with businesses that operate in or are interested in the city,” says Director of Economic Development Marja-Leena Rinkineva from the City of Helsinki.
The programme will be implemented over the long term in cooperation with the entire Helsinki City Group, while ensuring the City’s readiness to respond to the changing operating environment.
“I’m happy that the City of Helsinki has jointly defined the direction and principles that will strengthen the competitiveness of businesses and employment for Helsinki residents during the strategy period. The objectives for growth, skills and vitality provide us with a good foundation for building a more vibrant Helsinki,” Rinkineva says.
A city of world-class innovations and new growth
Helsinki will further strengthen its position as a world-class hub of start-up and growth companies. Helsinki will focus on its reputation and attractiveness in the international labour market and help international talent settle smoothly in the city.
Cooperation between the City and higher education institutions will speed up the emergence of new business based on innovation and research.
The City will continue to invest in accelerating the growth of the tourism and events sector, which is off to a good start. At the same time, Helsinki will seek new growth by investing more in the operating and growth conditions of the creative industries, health and wellbeing sector, circular economy in construction, maritime cluster and food industry.
“Helsinki is a diverse city where business services, a growth-seeking start-up ecosystem, a high level of technological expertise, evolving industry and attractive urban culture coexist. Helsinki has enormous growth potential, and the City is doing its part to ensure that this potential also translates into new jobs and prosperity,” says Director of Economic Development Rinkineva.
Number one choice for businesses and skilled people
It must be as easy as possible for companies to choose Helsinki as the location where they want to start and grow their business and relocate to. The City seeks to attract new headquarters to Helsinki. By offering a sufficient variety of commercial plots, the City will ensure that there is room for businesses to grow in Helsinki.
The City will strengthen its dialogue with businesses and develop its own services and processes by making increasing use of service promises.
“The City is tasked with ensuring that there is room for a wide range of businesses to grow. We are working towards this objective through land use and planning, the development of business premises, and transport planning, among other things,” says Head of the Urban Environment Division Ville Lehmuskoski.
The conditions for business-led growth will be strengthened by bringing jobseekers and businesses together. Helsinki residents will receive support for developing their skills and finding employment. At the same time, the City will develop the entrepreneurial skills of Helsinki residents, thereby strengthening their ability to start and run their own business.
The diverse services for entrepreneurs, the City’s investments in vitality, the attractive urban environment and events attract residents and visitors.
Adopted by the City Board at the beginning of May, this set of objectives is one of the programmes for implementing the Helsinki City Strategy. The objectives will structure the City’s economic development, employment and innovation policies throughout the current strategy period, which will run until 2029.