Nordicum - Real Estate Annual Finland 2011 | Page 64

Photo: Lentokuva Vallas Oy

Business with a Local Touch
Central Uusimaa Region keeps attracting new companies
As the Helsinki Metropolitan Region keeps growing, added emphasis is placed on the municipalities which neighbour the
three big cities (Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa) in the area. Especially young professionals with children flock to municipalities
outside the congested core – thanks to efficient traffic connections, these previous fringe communities are now seen as a
more attractive option by both citizens and companies.

T

he Central Uusimaa Region,
for instance, features some
of the most potent growth in Finland. There is plenty of purchasing power in the area which, in
turn, makes it possible to uphold
diverse services – and to develop them further as the municipalities keep growing. At the
same time, the region is known
for its rich nature which contributes tremendously to the local
quality of life.
The business climate in

62 Nordicum

Central Uusimaa Region also
shows variety and depth, which
means that the area is less susceptible to economic trends.
In addition, companies benefit
from the proximity of various
innovation clusters, such as universities and R&D units.

Kerava – Listen to
the Entrepreneur
City of Kerava is a good example of the proactive mindset of
the Central Uusimaa Region. As

Confederation of Finnish Industries EK searched for the most
pro-entrepreneur municipality in the land last year, Kerava
came in third after Kaarina and
Raisio. There were 50 municipalities involved in the study.
According to the study,
the municipal decision-making
takes the viewpoints of the local
entrepreneurs into consideration
very well. There are also plenty
of incentives for business here.
City Development Direc-

tor Pekka Kauranen says that
Kerava has a long tradition of
working together with the local
businesses.
“We meet regularly with
the entrepreneurs and listen to
their concerns with regards to
urban planning, decision-making and implementation. This
is part of our daily operations
in Kerava.”
For instance, the City officials like to sit down for brunch
with the local businesses and a