Finland prepares eastern special economic zone trial

Finland’s Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment has appointed a working group to prepare a temporary special economic zone trial in eastern Finland, Yle reports. The aim is to attract investment, improve access to skilled labour and speed up the launch of projects.

Possible measures include tax relief and faster permit processes. The trial is intended to help eastern Finland’s economy, which has suffered in the 2020s from factors including the effects of Russia’s war of aggression.

The city of Kajaani and the Imatra region have been proposed as the trial areas. The proposal was made by Harri Broman, the special representative for eastern Finland, and has the support of the region’s six provinces.

According to Broman, the proposal reflects a joint position among regional councils, the main cities, chambers of commerce, business organisations and educational institutions. He said the parties would no longer compete over which areas should be included in the trial.

The working group will define the trial’s areas, objectives, measures and duration. It will also prepare a plan for assessing its effects and draft the legislation required for the trial.

The group will work until the end of March 2027. Legislation on the special economic zone will not reach Parliament during the current government’s term.

Broman said the key issue was ensuring that the trial is included in the next government’s programme. He said he strongly believed this would happen regardless of the composition of the next government.

The temporary trial is part of the eastern Finland programme submitted to Prime Minister Petteri Orpo.