Finland

Border benefits in
South Karelia, Finland

Finnish Industry & Logistic Center

South Karelia is an industrial region in South East Finland, an area focused on wood and metal processing as well as ICT. Located on the Russian border, the region has a long tradition of Russian business and culture know-how.

Top Know-How

Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) and Technopolis Kareltek Ltd together form a growing know-how centre in Lappeenranta. LUT is an institution of higher learning that specialises in the needs of business life. About 90 high technological companies operate on the premises of Technopolis Kareltek Ltd. Also the Finnish forest industry (UPM and Stora Enso) has focused its development and innovative activities on South Karelia.

Gateway to Russia

Citizens and companies take advantage of the exceptional location on the EU and Russian border. South Karelia is only a stone’s throw away from the totally different culture of Russia. The distance to Russia’s second largest city, St. Petersburg, is only 200 kilometres. Border crossing points are situated at Nuijamaa and Imatra for road traffic (www.tieh.fi) and at Vainikkala for trains, offering a logistics corridor directly into the Russian markets. The Lappeenranta Free Zone (www.lappeenranta.fi/freezone) offers complete free-zone and value-added logistics services. Finland has the same rail gauge as in Russia, thus offering direct and daily rail links from Vainikkala to St. Petersburg, Moscow, Siberia and even the Far East.

The Saimaa Canal begins at region’s main city in Lappeenranta and is of central importance to the water traffic in the region. The biggest port in Finland’s internal waterway system is at Lappeenranta – Mustola. The port area offers complete and secure added-value free-zone warehousing services. Lappeenranta airport has many daily flight connections to Finland’ capital, Helsinki and from there on, to the rest of Europe, the US and Asia.

The border benefits

By operating on the Russian side, you can take advantage of the Russian work force, affordable sources of raw materials and versatile subcontracting services, regardless whether your market is in Russia or on the European side. By organising the assembly of your products on the Russian side you can lower custom duties and tax in a significant way.

In this border area you can solve one of the biggest problems for Western companies operating in Russia – how to manage companies in Russia. The close proximity of the Russian border makes it possible for the manager to visit the workplace daily and manage the company’s Russian activities. Find experienced managers here or place your own here in South Karelia.

Easy living

An attractive and prosperous location is important for businesses, and also from the employees’ point of view. According to Finland Today – about 90% of Lappeenranta residents are of the opinion that the place of residence is cosy and has safe surroundings for children. Schools in Lappeenranta and Imatra also have classes for English-speaking children. The Finnish way of living is easy. In the summertime the sun shines through the night, in the winter time you enjoy snow sports. Finland’s largest lake – Saimaa – offers excellent settings for boating, swimming, golf on lake shores, fishing, walking in the wild and other leisure activities; unique outdoor opportunities are everyday benefits in Finland.

Multilingual workers

Ninety percent of all Finns under 30 speak English, and English serves as the language of business. South Karelia also has more Russian-speaking inhabitants than any other region in Finland. It is a definitive center of skilled Russian traders and is strongly devoted to teaching the Russian language, culture and trade.

If you are interested

Look for more information at www.ekarjala.fi

 

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