The initiative was announced during a meeting between Lviv City Mayor Andriy Sadovyy and the leadership of Business Tampere, Finland’s regional economic development agency. The primary topic of discussion was the opening of the agency’s first office in Ukraine, which will be based in Lviv.
“We are here because we are planning to open an office. This will be our first office in Ukraine. Initially, it will be a small team, but its mission will be to support businesses and help Ukrainian and Finnish partners connect to conclude important agreements, exchange expertise, and implement joint reconstruction projects,” said Harri Ojala, CEO of Business Tampere.
The Lviv office will provide support and advisory services to Finnish companies interested in entering the Ukrainian market. It is scheduled to open in mid-September.
“Other countries are also interested in establishing this kind of cooperation with the Lviv City Council. This is a well-considered and timely decision. Once a ceasefire is achieved, Ukraine will need a large number of companies to rebuild and recover. That is why we should not wait—we need to start this process today,” said Lviv City Mayor Andriy Sadovyy.
Business Tampere’s key focus areas include dual-use technologies and advanced industry. The Tampere region is home to Finland’s leading defence technology companies, including Patria, a manufacturer of armoured personnel carriers and unmanned ground robotic systems. Business Tampere is already actively cooperating with several companies in Lviv’s defence sector.
“One of our priority areas is defence technologies and dual-use innovations. The city supports the development of relevant clusters and companies and is ready to expand cooperation with international partners. Significant opportunities also exist in the healthcare sector. Overall, Lviv is interested in building long-term strategic partnerships with international businesses and investors who are ready to contribute to projects already today,” said Serhii Kiral, Deputy Mayor for International Cooperation.
Energy is another important area of collaboration.
“Lviv is working to decentralize energy production, expand its own generation capacity, and strengthen the city’s energy independence. Looking ahead, the city is considering the establishment of a municipal energy holding company that would bring together new projects in district heating and power generation. More broadly, Lviv is committed to developing long-term strategic partnerships with international businesses and investors willing to join these initiatives today,” Serhii Kiral added.
The official opening of the office in September will also include the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between the Lviv City Council and Business Tampere.
Background
Business Tampere is the economic development agency for the Tampere region in Finland, representing eight municipalities. The organization helps companies, investors, and skilled professionals grow, expand internationally, and establish operations in the region by providing business advisory services, access to funding, investment support, and industry-specific ecosystems.
Tampere is Finland’s third-largest city, after Helsinki and Espoo, and is one of the country’s leading centres for higher education, industry, and innovation. The city has a strong IT sector, advanced engineering expertise, and internationally recognized universities.
The region is home to hundreds of technology companies and startups founded by former Nokia and Microsoft engineers following the restructuring of Nokia’s mobile phone business in 2014. Key areas of expertise include artificial intelligence, renewable energy, and advanced industrial technologies.
Photo: Roman Baluk
